Abstract
Globally, approximately 39.9 million people were living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 2023 (World Health Organization, 2024). In South Africa, an estimated 8.0 million people were living with HIV in 2024 (Statistics South Africa, 2024). The People Living with HIV (PLWH) become prone to developing other co-morbidities such as Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) (Darraj et al. 2021). The PTB is a common opportunistic disease in PLWH (Shaw & Matin, 2022). South Africa is burdened with HIV/PTB co-infection. However, it there is a paucity of research on the experiences of registered nurses in managing HIV/PTB co-infection especially in Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics. The PHC is the first point of care for patients and is often nurse-led (Michael et al. 2018). Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of the registered nurses on the management of HIV/PTB co-infection.
Methods: A qualitative research approach, with an exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was employed. Data were gathered using semi-structed interviews from 11 registered nurses and analysed using Tesch’s eight steps.
Results: There were three themes that emerged. Theme One focused on the roles of the registered nurses in managing HIV/PTB co-infection and these entailed adherence counselling, health education and routine monitoring. Theme Two focused on the challenges experienced in managing HIV/PTB co-infection/ Lastly, phase Three focused on the support structures which facilitated the care provision such as community health workers as members of the health care team and other support structures in PHC.
Conclusion: The HIV/PTB co-infection is affecting people across the world. A tailored intervention is needed which can support clinicians, especially registered nurses involved in the management of HIV/PTB co-infection thus improving the care of newly diagnosed patients living with HIV/PTB co-infection. Future research is needed on the experiences of the health care team members managing patients living with HIV/TB co-infection in a broader context.
Contribution: This study adds to the body of knowledge insights into the experiences of the registered nurses involved in the care of newly diagnosed patients living with HIV/PTB co-infection. It further broadens knowledge on the healthcare interventions adopted by registered nurses which promote the health of newly diagnosed patients living with HIV/PTB co-infection.
Notes
References:
Darraj, M.A., Abdulhaq, A.A., Yassin, A., Mubarki, S., Shalaby, H.M., Keynan, Y., Ghailan, K.Y. and Al-Mekhlafi, H.M., 2021. Tuberculosis among people living with HIV/AIDS in Jazan region, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 14(11), 1571-1577.
Michel, J.E., D Tediosi, F., D Egger, M.B. and T McIntyre, D.R., 2018. Lest we forget, primary health care in Sub-Saharan Africa is nurse led. Is this reflected in the current health systems strengthening undertakings and initiatives?. Journal of Global Health Reports, 2, p.e2018009.
Shaw, J. and Matin, N., 2022. Opportunistic infections in HIV. Medicine, 50(5), 294-297.
Statistics South Africa. 2024. Mid-year population estimates. [Online]. Available at: https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=17440. Accessed [2024, October 28].
World Health Organization. 2024. HIV. [Online]. Available at: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/hiv-aids. Accessed [2024, September 23].
Sigma Membership
Alpha Beta Beta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Descriptive/Correlational
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Long-term Care, Primary Care, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV
Recommended Citation
Tokwe, Lwandile; Jordan, Portia Janine; and Marie Modeste, Rugira Regis, "Experiences of Registered Nurses in Managing HIV/PTB Co-Infection in Primary Healthcare" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 159.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/159
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Experiences of Registered Nurses in Managing HIV/PTB Co-Infection in Primary Healthcare
Seattle, Washington, USA
Globally, approximately 39.9 million people were living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 2023 (World Health Organization, 2024). In South Africa, an estimated 8.0 million people were living with HIV in 2024 (Statistics South Africa, 2024). The People Living with HIV (PLWH) become prone to developing other co-morbidities such as Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) (Darraj et al. 2021). The PTB is a common opportunistic disease in PLWH (Shaw & Matin, 2022). South Africa is burdened with HIV/PTB co-infection. However, it there is a paucity of research on the experiences of registered nurses in managing HIV/PTB co-infection especially in Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics. The PHC is the first point of care for patients and is often nurse-led (Michael et al. 2018). Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of the registered nurses on the management of HIV/PTB co-infection.
Methods: A qualitative research approach, with an exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was employed. Data were gathered using semi-structed interviews from 11 registered nurses and analysed using Tesch’s eight steps.
Results: There were three themes that emerged. Theme One focused on the roles of the registered nurses in managing HIV/PTB co-infection and these entailed adherence counselling, health education and routine monitoring. Theme Two focused on the challenges experienced in managing HIV/PTB co-infection/ Lastly, phase Three focused on the support structures which facilitated the care provision such as community health workers as members of the health care team and other support structures in PHC.
Conclusion: The HIV/PTB co-infection is affecting people across the world. A tailored intervention is needed which can support clinicians, especially registered nurses involved in the management of HIV/PTB co-infection thus improving the care of newly diagnosed patients living with HIV/PTB co-infection. Future research is needed on the experiences of the health care team members managing patients living with HIV/TB co-infection in a broader context.
Contribution: This study adds to the body of knowledge insights into the experiences of the registered nurses involved in the care of newly diagnosed patients living with HIV/PTB co-infection. It further broadens knowledge on the healthcare interventions adopted by registered nurses which promote the health of newly diagnosed patients living with HIV/PTB co-infection.
Description
There were three themes that emerged. Theme One focused on the roles of the registered nurses in managing HIV/PTB co-infection and these entailed adherence counselling, health education and routine monitoring. Theme Two focused on the challenges experienced in managing HIV/PTB co-infection/ Lastly, phase Three focused on the support structures which facilitated the care provision such as community health workers as members of the health care team and other support structures in PHC.