Zambia has attempted to create universal access to
antiretroviral therapy. However, barriers still
remain at the individual, institutional and national
levels to access ART. The objective of the study was
to determine factors related to accessibility to ART
by PLHIV in Chikuni Parish in Southern province
of Zambia. Out of a total of 1,067 Chikuni Home
Based Care clients, 182 filled in the questionnaire:
173 adults, 7 youth aged 15-25 years and 2 children
below the age of 15 years. In addition, two local
partners implementing HIV and AIDS-related
programs were interviewed. Purposive sampling
was used to select participants. Out of 182
respondents, 125 (67%) described their condition
as of by then to be very good, 44 (24%) as good, and
9 (5%) as not too good. Appointments to collect
ARVs were not kept as reported by 43% of the
respondents. About a quarter (24%) reported that
there was a shortage of ARVs. About 1 in 10 (9%)
of the respondents did not take the medication
regularly. Access to ART was rated as by 54% of
the respondents as good and 45% rated it as fair.
Two thirds of the respondents found it hard to
reach the facility for treatment; reasons being
hospital too far from home, transport too expensive
and sometimes transport was not available. On the
services received, 56% of the respondents were
dissatisfied with the attention and quality of care
they received. Challenges of under staffing and
self-stigma were some of the barriers to accessing
ART. About 1 in 10 (9%) of the respondents did
not take the medication regularly. Decentralizing
model for ART delivery would improve access to
ART.