Medications, Healthcare Workers and Laboratory Capabilities to Manage HIV Infection among Children from 10 Districts of Indonesia

Aims: To identify the availability of Medications, Healthcare Workers and Laboratory Capabilities to manage HIV infection among children from 10 Districts of Indonesia to inform efforts to improve healthcare.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Five provinces with the greatest number of People Living With HIV/ADS (PLWHA) in Indonesia: Jakarta, East Java, Bali, Papua and North Sumatera, between May and July 2015.

Methodology: Study subjects were parents/caregivers of children living with HIV/AIDS CLWHA) The number of subjects was calculated by estimating a population proportion with absolute precision, excluding those that cannot communicate well and of CLWHA who lived independently. 267 respondents were taken proportionately from each district. This descriptive study was conducted by using pre-test questionnaires and checklists to observe the availability of ARV and OI medication, medical devices and laboratory reagents.

Results: Data of 239 parents/caregivers out of 267 can be analyzed concerning their perception of the availability of ARVs and laboratory equipment. They are primarily their own parents (65.7%), more than half up to junior high school graduate (52.7%). The availability of medications at some hospitals are limited or unavailable. Nurses are still lacking and many who have not been trained. The comprehensiveness of the laboratory equipment and capabilities is still insufficient. The viral loads can only be examined in one hospital and CD4 cannot be counted in several hospitals. The availability of reagents is also very limited. There is no relation between respondents’ perception of the availability of ARVs and of the completeness of laboratory equipment with their education level (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The availability of medications for HIV/AIDS must be assured and the number of trained nurses still need to be increased.