Investigation on Task Shifting of HIV/AIDS Follow-Up Management Workers in New Launched Areas, China

Background: This study aimed to understand attitudes of HIV/AIDS follow-up workers regarding task shifting, reveal the current conditions of this implementation, as well as to find out any challenges of early-stage implementation. Methods: Taking Jiangxi Province as an example, a cross-sectional survey with 102 health professionals in CDCs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and 92 health care providers in primary health institutions was conducted from November 2016 to January 2017. This survey includes the demographic backgrounds of participants, their attitudes towards task shifting, and the main difficulties faced in their work, etc. Results: 60.8% of professionals and 77.2% of providers hold positive attitudes towards task shifting. Both health professionals and providers express their concerns about unclear and undefined funds distribution and lack of confidentiality of PLWHA (people living with HIV) in local primary health institutions. Conclusions: The majority of health workers hold positive attitudes towards task shifting. It also highlights some negative reactions in implementation, and reveals the main difficulties that constitute barriers to follow-up. Findings from this study may provide evidence for enhancing future implementation of task shifting.