HIV/AIDS: Research and Palliative Care (Sep 2024)

Accelerating Success of HIV/AIDS Control Programs: The Significance of Health-Care Workers’ Competence

  • Byamugisha T,
  • Alinda F,
  • Tushaboha SL,
  • Kwemarira G,
  • Kyambade M

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 16
pp. 367 – 377

Abstract

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Tanazio Byamugisha,1 Fred Alinda,2 Samuel Lev Tushaboha,3 Godwin Kwemarira,4 Mahadih Kyambade4 1Kibaale District Civil Society Organization Network, Kagadi, Uganda; 2Institute Research and Innovation Centre, Uganda Management Institute, Kampala, Uganda; 3Infectious Diseases Institute, Hoima, Uganda; 4Department of Leadership and Governance, Faculty of Management, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, UgandaCorrespondence: Tanazio Byamugisha; Mahadih Kyambade, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: - Despite the competence-building framework and interventions, the success of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs remains unsatisfactory with scanty empirical evidence on the significance of professional competence to the success of HIV/AIDS control programs.Methods: - Using a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data, from 40 health-care workers and 9 managers of the HIV/AIDS program in Kagadi District, this article analyzes the professional and cultural competencies among health-care workers and the significance of the competencies to the success of HIV/AIDS control programs. Descriptive statistics were generated to describe health-care workers’ opinions on their competence and success of HIV/AIDS control programs. In addition, a regression model was fitted to estimate the contribution of health-care workers’ competence to the success of HIV/AIDS control programs. This quantitative analysis was triangulated with a thematic analysis of key informants’ views.Results: - Findings indicate that health-care workers’ competence bears a positive statistically significant contribution to the success of HIV/AIDS control programs. Employee competence is necessary but not sufficient to foster the full realization of desired results from HIV/AIDS control programs.Conclusion: - Managers of HIV/AIDS control programs need to prioritize and continuously train health-care workers to boost their professional and cultural skills to effectively deliver interventional activities under HIV/AIDS control programs. Additionally, improving the working environment of health-care workers is critical to improve their motivation towards greater success of HIV/AIDS control programs.Keywords: health-care workers, employee competence, HIV/AIDS, programs, success

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