Lived experiences of people living with HIV and hypertension or diabetes access to care in Ethiopia: a phenomenological study

Background People living with HIV (PLWH) are more likely to develop hypertension and diabetes than people without HIV. Previous studies have shown that HIV stigma, discrimination and exclusion make it difficult for PLWH to access care for hypertension and diabetes.Objectives This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of PLWH with comorbid hypertension or diabetes to access hypertension and diabetes care in southern Ethiopia.Design We conducted a qualitative study using a semistructured interview guide for an in-depth, in-person interview.Settings From 5 August to 25 September 2022, PLWH with comorbid hypertension or diabetes were purposefully selected from five primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in the Wolaita zone of southern Ethiopia.Participants A total of 14 PLWH with comorbid hypertension or diabetes who were receiving antiretroviral therapy from PHC were interviewed. Among them, 10 were women, and 4 were men.Methods In-person, in-depth interviews were conducted. Qualitative data analysis software (NVivo V.12) was used to assist with the data organisation, and Colaizzi's (1978) inductive thematic analyses were conducted to explore key concepts.Result This study yielded two main themes: Theme 1: barriers to accessing care as individual barriers to access (low awareness of non-communicable diseases, misperceptions, lack of health insurance and cost of treatment); healthcare system barriers (shortage of supplies, drugs and equipment; long wait times; lack of integrated services; absence of routine screening and lack of respect from providers); community barriers (lack of support from families, friends and the community) and stigma and discrimination access to hypertension and diabetes. Theme 2: accessibility facilitators (support from family, friends and organisations; health insurance coverage).Conclusion PLWH recommended that access to services can be improved by service integration, awareness-raising activities, no user fee charges for hypertension and diabetes care and routine screening.