Human Immune-Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic is one of the most demanding public health and social challenge to health care systems worldwide over the last 25 years. It has the capacity to produce psychosocial disturbances in both the sufferer and the community at large. This study sought to examine the availability and quality of services for Sexually Transmitted Infections / Human Immune Deficiency Syndrome in the Limbe Regional hospital and Buea Regional hospital annex in Fako division in the Southwest region of Cameroon. The study employed a survey design and more specifically a sequential exploratory mixed-methods approach. The sample size for the study was 220 HIV/AIDS patients receiving treatment in these health facilities. Triangulation also applied in analyzing the data by combining qualitative and quantitative approaches with the support of SPSS for quantitative analysis and Atlas Ti for qualitative analysis. The findings unfolded that a proportion of 90 (94.7%) of participants attended antenatal clinic, 191 (92.35%) were regularly tested on HIV, 198 (94.3%) had done CD4 test, 205 (96.2%) attended day care / UPEC services and 168 (79.6%) were taking antiretroviral therapy. This statistical trend by ricochet supports the availability of STIs / HIV services. Reasons for noncompliance to STIs / HIV services were for the main ones the perception that one is not sick or is not actually sick as no symptom of illness is being felt, adjustment of life style with abstinence to sex, poverty, ignorance, sporadic failure in lab equipment, ignorance, lack of awareness, no identification document to express citizenship and ease movement, inconsistent service, some health personnel not welcoming, and inconsistent supply of drugs. Findings of this study would contribute to the limited services on the reproductive health of HIV/AIDS infected patients in Cameroon, and may serve as a clinical reference to HIV care providers who may use the findings of this study to offer comprehensive care to their patients. This study is also expected to provide basis for policy makers and stakeholders to enact sustainable policies to boost the management of people living with HIV/AIDS and improve on their wellbeing and socio-economic development.
STIs / HIV, Services, Quality, Fako Division, Cameroon.
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