Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41899670›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2026

Healthcare Infrastructure and Resource Barriers to Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Ghana: Insights from a Qualitative Study.

Awinaba Amoah Adongo, Dominic Nabil Bodpii, Robert Kuchengye Mokulogo, Lumbwe Chola, James Akazili

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Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Awinaba Amoah AdongoDepartment of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi A0K315, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0002-0261-3295
Dominic Nabil BodpiiSchool of Business, University for Development Studies, Tamale TL1350, Ghana.
Robert Kuchengye MokulogoDepartment of Languages Education, School of Education and Life-Long Learning, Simon Diedong University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa WA64, Ghana.ORCID 0000-0001-6063-242X
Lumbwe CholaDepartment of Health Management and Health Economics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway.
James AkaziliSchool of Public Health, C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo P. O. Box 24, Ghana.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe prevention of the mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV is a vital strategy in reducing paediatric HIV infections. However, the delivery of PMTCT services is frequently impeded by resource constraints within the healthcare systems. This study investigates the systemic barriers affecting PMTCT implementation in Ghana and examines the disconnection between health policy design, priority setting, and on-the-ground realities.

methodsThe study employed the qualitative approach using a case study research design. The purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the health facilities, with an in-depth interview guide used to solicit views from healthcare providers and mothers participating in PMTCT services. Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis was employed in analysing the data on the perceptions of infrastructural and resource-related challenges affecting PMTCT services.

resultsParticipants identified several key barriers, including the absence of dedicated office spaces, a limited outpatient department (OPD) capacity, inadequate storage for antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications, and shortages of HIV-testing equipment affecting care delivery and access. These issues, alongside workforce limitations and supply chain disruptions, were found to significantly undermine the delivery and effectiveness of PMTCT services.

conclusionsThe study underscores the need for context-aware health policy development. Effective priority setting and benefits package design must be informed by frontline insights, taking into account infrastructural deficits, human resource constraints, and systemic bottlenecks. Aligning national initiatives, such as the StEPS programme, with operational realities is essential for enhancing PMTCT outcomes.

Indexed as

Health ResourcesHIV InfectionsInfectious Disease Transmission, VerticalFemaleGhanaHealth Services AccessibilityHumansPregnancyPublic Health InfrastructureQualitative ResearchResource-Limited Settingsbarriers to carehealthcare accesshealth infrastructurematernal healthpatient experience

Identifiers

PMID41899670
PMCPMC13026660

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.