Abstract
BACKGROUND - Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is due to infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). South Africa has come a long way in fighting against HIV. Still, it has a very high number of people infected with the virus and a relatively large number of newly infected cases annually. Many HIV/AIDS patients are seen annually at Primary Health Care Clinics (PHCCs).
There are rhetoric or anecdotally based arguments by the Podiatry profession on the need for podiatric interventions for persons living with HIV/AIDS. To date, no studies from the Podiatry profession in South Africa have identified the burden of foot and lower limb complications in HIV/AIDS patients.
This study aimed to investigate and describe foot and lower limb complications in HIV/AIDS patients and discuss the potential need and role of Podiatric intervention.
METHOD - An exploratory, sequential, descriptive, mixed-method design was used for this study. The setting for the quantitative phase of this study was three PHCCs at Ekurhuleni, namely, Tembisa Healthcare, eThafeni and Winnie Mandela clinics. The setting for the qualitative phase of this study was held at Boardroom at Tembisa health care centre clinic.
RESULTS – A total number of participants for the quantitative phase was n=210, and for the qualitative phase was n=3. The quantitative phase showed that 17.1% of participants had primary foot and lower limb complaints, and 51% had secondary and lower limb complaints. These conditions are grouped according to dermatology, vascular, neurology and musculoskeletal system. In the qualitative phase, three themes emerged from the focus group discussion: standard foot and lower limb symptoms HIV patients present with, lack of time to assess the foot and the role of the Podiatrist as part of the multi-disciplinary team in managing HIV patients.
CONCLUSION – This is possible, the first study in South Africa to provide data on HIV/AIDS patients presenting at PHCCs with foot and lower limb complications. Evidence from the study has proven that HIV/AIDS patients do consult PHCCs with foot and lower limb problems as primary and secondary complaints. This study also concluded that there is a great need and role of Podiatric clinicians in HIV patients.