title: Perceived quality of HIV treatment and care services in Wolaita Zone of southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the levels and factors affecting the perceived quality of HIV/AIDS treatment and care services.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in Wolaita Zone of southern Ethiopia in one hospital and five health centres providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) and pre-ART.
  
  
  METHODS
  481 persons infected with HIV on outpatient care, 408 (83.8%) on ART and 73 (16.2%) on pre-ART care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  324 (71.4%) of the participants perceived the quality of HIV care as 'good', while 130 (28.6%) stated that it was 'not good'; 219 (46.2%) and 255 (53.8%) were satisfied and not satisfied with the services, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, a unit increase in the doctors subscale of multidimensional health locus of control-form c score resulted in a 1.27 (1.04 to 1.55) increase in the odds of perceived good quality of care (p<0.05). Similarly, a unit increase in the responsiveness, perceived financial fairness, and perceived transportation convenience scores was associated with a 1.03 (1.01 to 1.05) (p<0.05), 1.08 (1.05 to 1.15) (p<0.01), and 1.07 (1.05 to 1.18) (p<0.05) increase in the odds of perceived good quality of HIV care, respectively. In terms of client satisfaction with services, a 1 km increase in the distance from health facilities, and unemployment were associated with a 4.64 (2.61 to 8.25) (p<0.001), 1.02 (1.01 to 1.04) (p<0.05) and 2.23 (1.30 to 4.54) (p<0.01) times, respectively, increase in the perceived quality of HIV treatment and care services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of the participants reported perceptions of good quality HIV care and satisfaction with the services. Satisfaction with services; responsiveness; health locus of control; perceived financial fairness; perceived transportation convenience; employment status; and distance from the health facility were predictors of the perceived quality of HIV care. Thus, improving quality of HIV treatment services may require addressing the above factors.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Public Health, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KZN, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bereket
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yakob
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Public Health, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: Busisiwe Purity
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Ncama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: Ethiopia; HIV/AIDS; Perceived Quality of Care; Responsiveness; Satisfaction with service; Wolaita Zone