Perceived Patients’ Satisfaction, Barriers and Implications on Engagement in Antiretroviral Treatment Services in Cameroon within the HIV Test and Treat Context

Introduction: Patients’ satisfaction has been associated with improved adherence, retention and antiretroviral treatment (ART) outcomes. Sustained engagement in ART is a prerequisite for attaining universal ART coverage. This study describes perceived patients’ satisfaction, barriers and implications on engagement in ART services within the context of the HIV Test &Treat (HIV T&T) strategy. Materials and methods: Between August and September 2018, HIV positive clients who initiated ART and key HIV care providers (HCPs) in three HIV clinics in Cameroon were interviewed. Ethical and administrative clearances for the study were obtained from the appropriate quarters. A thematic approach was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 45 HIV positive clients and 21 HCPs were interviewed. Patients’ satisfaction varied with HIV service. Patient-reported barriers included: long waiting time, poor reception, delay between time of HIV diagnosis and ART initiation, poor coordination between HIV testing and ART services, poor flexibility in ART delivery system, large tablet size of ARVs/indefinite treatment duration, side effects. Inadequate counselling, overcrowding in the HIV clinics, patients’ non-appreciation of ART benefits were reported by patients and HCPs. Some barriers were linked to the HIV T&T strategy and many of them limited patients’ engagement in ART. Conclusion: Patient satisfaction varied with HIV service. Some of the barriers to patients’ satisfaction were linked with the implementation of the HIV T&T strategy and negatively impacted patients’ engagement in ART services. These views should be considered in evaluating and improving the quality of HIV care