title: Knowledge of HIV and its treatment among health care providers in South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In South Africa, availability of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs has increased largely in the public sector since it became available in 2004. Follow-up of stabilized patients on ARV drugs are done in primary health care (PHC) facilities run by nurses, often without specialized training. This has deep impact on the patients' drug adherence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate health care providers' (HCPs) knowledge about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The aim was also to investigate nurses' knowledge and experience regarding adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public PHC clinics in one district of the Eastern Cape Province.
  
  
  METHODS
  Personal interviews, using a structured questionnaire, were conducted with 102 HCPs (nurses and auxiliary staff) working at six PHC facilities, one community health centre and one health post.
  
  
  METHODS
  Knowledge about HIV and ART among nurses and auxiliary staff.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both nurses and auxiliary staff had some basic knowledge about symptoms of HIV and modes of transmission, but great uncertainty was seen regarding specific topics including ARV drugs, ADRs and HIV complications. The PHC staff were uncertain about how to administer ARV drugs--with or without food--and some of them would advice their patients not to take ARV drugs at times when food was lacking. Both nurses and auxiliary staff knew that HIV was treated with ARV drugs. Only 60 % of the HCPs claimed that ART was the only effective treatment for HIV, whereas 39 % claimed that nutritious food also could treat HIV. Nurses showed lacking ability to manage ADRs. They also had very little knowledge about ADR reporting, and very few had ever submitted a report at all.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study shows that both nurses and auxiliary staff are unable to provide the patients with adequate advice about administration of the ARV drugs and management of ADRs. Serious lack of knowledge among HCPs regarding the treatment of HIV presents structural barriers to the patients' adherence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Pb 1068 Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Karine Wabø
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Ruud
authors.forename: Sunitha C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Srinivas
authors.forename: Else-Lydia
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Toverud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents