Integrating the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV after AIDS denialism in South Africa: Perspectives of experts and health care workers - A qualitative study

Background Integrating vertical programmes into routine health services under complex socio-political and health system conditions is a priority and a challenge. The successful rollout of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission programmes (PMTCT) in sub-Saharan Africa has decreased Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), reduced child mortality and improved maternal health. In South Africa, PMTCT is now integrated into existing health services and this experience could serve as a relevant example for integrating other programmes into comprehensive primary care. We explored the perspectives of both experts and frontline health workers (FHCWs) in South Africa on PMTCT integration into primary health care (PHC) in the context of post-AIDS denialism using a Complex Adaptive Systems framework. Methods We conducted a total of 20 in-depth semi-structured interviews; 10 with experts (PMTCT and health system experts, policymakers, researchers and activists) and 10 with FHCWs including clinic managers, nurses and midwives. All interviews were conducted in person, audio-recorded and transcribed. Three investigators collaborated in coding transcripts and used an iterative approach for thematic analysis. Results Experts and FHCWs agreed on the importance of integrated PMTCT services. Experts reported a slow and partial integration of PMTCT programs into PHC following its initial rollout as a stand-alone program in the aftermath of the AIDS denialism period. Experts and FHCWs diverged on the challenges associated with integration of PMTCT. Experts highlighted bureaucracy, HIV stigma and discrimination and a shortage of training for staff as major barriers to PMTCT integration. In comparison, FHCWs emphasized high workloads, staff turnover and infrastructure issues (such as lack of rooms, small spaces, etc.) as their main challenges to integration. Both experts and FHCWs suggested that working with community health workers, particularly in the post-partum period, helped to address cases of loss to follow-up of women and their babies and to improve linkages to protein-chain reaction (PCR) testing and immunisation. Conclusions Despite organised efforts in South Africa, experts and FHCWs reported multiple barriers for the full integration of PMTCT programmes in PHC, especially postpartum. Our results suggest opportunities to address operational challenges towards more integrated PMTCT and other health services in order to improve maternal and child health.