A Dissertation Submitted to the School of Public Administration and Management in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Health Monitoring and Evaluation (HME) of Mzumbe University
This study, which involved a sample of 200 respondents, was conducted in
Kilolo District Council in Tanzania to assess the influence of health facility
factors on utilisation of Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV infection (EID) services.
The study problem was that there are HIV exposed infants who are enrolled in
the EID programme but they don’t access the intended services and hence the
need for conducting the study. The specific objectives were (i) to evaluate
availability of EID materials and its influence on utilisation of EID services in
Kilolo health facilities; (ii) to assess availability of sample and results
transportation system and its influence on utilisation of EID services in Kilolo
health facilities; (iii) to assess the competence of healthcare workers and its
influence on utilisation of EID services at Kilolo health facilities; and (iv) to
assess the satisfaction of mothers / guardians of HIV exposed infants on EID
services provided in Kilolo health facilities.
The study findings revealed that utilisation of EID service was indeed low (at
38%) as data suggested. Among contributing factors was inadequate EID
materials at health facilities. Forty eight percent (48%) of the health worker
respondents strongly disagree that there are adequate DBS materials at health
facilities. On the same issue, when health workers were asked on whether they
experienced stock outs of EID materials, fifty seven percent (57%) answered in
the affirmative. The other finding was that health facility care workers do not
have sufficient skills for providing EID services. Forty three percent (43%) of the
healthcare worker respondents reported that the sample and results transportation
system is not reliable. The results showed that availability of EID materials and
sample and results transportation system positively influences utilisation of EID
services at the health facilities whereas competence of healthcare workers
influences negatively the utilisation of EID services.
This study recommends that the healthcare workers be trained in providing EID
services and that arrangements be done for ensuring availability of EID materials,
sample and results transportation system and availability of competent healthcare
workers.