Original Research Monitoring patients on ART within the CCMDD programme and those attending an urban healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal

Sheldon Chetty, Andrew Ross

About the author(s) Sheldon Chetty, East Boom Community Health Centre, Department of Health, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; and Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Andrew Ross, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Abstract

Background: South Africa has high number of patients on antiretroviral treatment, necessitating innovative approaches to decongest healthcare facilities. The Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme is a national initiative that identifies stable chronic patients for collection at pick-up points away from the health facility. This study aimed to compare patient satisfaction and virological suppression among those who collected medication through the CCMDD programme and routine care.

Methods: This descriptive retrospective analytical study was conducted at a community health centre in Pietermaritzburg from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 and included a questionnaire and access to their medical records on the national medicines database. The 117 patients in the routine care and CCMDD programme groups were assessed at baseline and evaluated at 6 months and 12 months, which were the time points for viral load (VL) testing.

Results: Of the 234 participants, 34 out of 117 (31.6%) remained in routine care at the 6-month review, and all but 7 patients had transferred to the CCMDD after 12 months. At the end of the study, 7 patients had VLs above 50 copies/mL and continued in routine care, while 97% (n = 27/234) remained virologically suppressed. None of the CCMDD programme patients moved out of the programme.

Conclusion: Satisfaction with the CCMDD programme is indicated by the patients’ continued VL suppression, highlighting its potential to decongest healthcare facilities and reduce the strain associated with medication collection.

Contribution: The findings in this study validate patients being registered onto the CCMDD programme.

Keywords

HIV; CCMDD; decongestion of urban healthcare facilities in Pietermaritzburg; KwaZulu-Natal; viral load; CCMDD, decongestion of healthcare facilities; overburdened health facilities; virologically stable; decanting of patients; differentiated model of care

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

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