Extending beyond Policy: Reaching UNAIDS’ Three “90”s in Malawi

Malawi, like other countries with a generalized HIV epidemic, is striving to reach the ambitious targets set by UNAIDS known as the three 90’s for testing, provision of antiretroviral therapy and viral suppression. Assisted by Malawi’s progressive policies on HIV/AIDS, it appears possible that Malawi will attain these targets, but only by employing innovative program approaches to service delivery which help fill policy gaps. This article describes how a dedicated cadre of layperson testers and HIV-positive peers appears to have helped attain increases in HIV and viral load testing and retention in care in four districts in Malawi, and situates these innovations in a policy framework analysis

Student and preceptor perceptions of primary health care clinical placements during pre-service education: Qualitative results from a quasi-experimental study

As a practice discipline, nursing education has a mandate to collaborate with all clinical settings, including primary health care (PHC), to prepare nursing students to function effectively in different settings upon deployment. Prior to 2011, nursing and midwifery students received minimal exposure to PHC settings in Lesotho. In 2010, the Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program began working with nurses' training institutions to support PHC clinical placements. Between April 2013 and June 2014, a multi-methods study was conducted to describe the effect of PHC placements on students and preceptors. The study employed qualitative methods, namely seven focus group discussions (FGDs), held with 69 students and preceptors. Data analysis followed the principles of grounded theory. Students, nurse educators and preceptors perceived PHC clinical placements as appropriate settings for acquisition of a variety of country relevant clinical experiences for nurses and midwives in Lesotho. Students expressed their likelihood to accept deployment at PHC settings post-graduation. Preceptors indicated that PHC clinical placements re-enforced the importance of continuing education for practicing clinicians. The placements supported an increase in competence and confidence of nursing and midwifery students, which will likely aid their transition into the workforce and perhaps increase the likelihood for the young professionals to accept deployment to these areas post-graduation. Given the disease burden in Lesotho and that majority of Basotho people access healthcare at the PHC level, every effort should be taken to ensure that nursing and midwifery students get adequate exposure to health care provision at these facilities