Mabelane, T.Marincowitz, Gert J.O.Ogunbanjo, G.A.Govender, Indiran2016-06-032016-06-032016Mabelane, T, Marincowitza, GJO, Ogunbanjob, GA & Govender, I 2016, 'Factors affecting the implementation of nurse-initiated antiretroviral treatment in primary health care clinics of Limpopo Province, South Africa', South African Family Practice, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 9-12.1608-4356 (print)1727-9835 (online)10.1080/20786190.2015.1114704http://hdl.handle.net/2263/52855INTRODUCTION : The implementation of nurse-initiated antiretroviral (ARV) treatment at primary health care clinics was introduced in 2010 as a response to lower the HIV prevalence rate in the community. AIM : The aim of the study was to identify the factors affecting the implementation of nurse-initiated ARV treatment in primary health care clinics referring patients to Dr CN Phatudi Hospital, Limpopo Province. METHODOLOGY : A qualitative study was conducted in 2013 with a purposeful sample of nurses from 12 clinics involved in the nurse-initiated antiretroviral treatment (NIMART) programme. Two free-attitude focus groups and two individual interviews were conducted (audio- and video-recorded whilst the researcher took field notes). These interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the colour-coding as well as cut-and-paste methods. RESULTS : Common themes that emerged from the individual and focus-group interviews were: (1) lack of resources, which included health care workers, drugs, stationery, telephones, poor training and inadequate workspace; (2) factors affecting treatment adherence, such as stigma, poverty, poor roads and the restrictions on the ‘one pill’ regime; (3) support from management and the visiting doctor and (4) nurses’ work satisfaction. CONCLUSION : Two of the themes that emerged acted as barriers to the implementation of the NIMART programme, namely: (1) lack of resources and (2) factors affecting treatment adherence. The two other themes enhanced the implementation of the NIMART programme, namely: (1) support visits and (2) nurses’ work satisfaction.en© 2016 The Author(s). Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0].Antiretroviral treatment (ART)South Africa (SA)Antiretroviral (ARV)Nurse-initiated antiretroviral treatment (NIMART)Primary health care clinicsHealth sciences articles SDG-03SDG-03: Good health and well-beingArticle