Table 3 Perceptions of workforce-related facilitators of task performance

Need for a collaborative, interdisciplinary work environment

Collaboration between HCWs, a willingness to share the workload, and communication and information sharing between HCW cadres was perceived as a facilitator of patient follow-up and retention in care. Midwives expressed a need for and appreciation of assistance from community counselors, social workers and nurses.

“[Major facilitators of Option B include] harmony between the HCWs and good collaboration… we have feedback meetings to put in place strategies [to] motivate, inform and encourage patients.”—Community counselor

PMTCT in-service trainings and refresher courses

HCWs desired for regular in-service trainings in PMTCT for all HCWs involved in PMTCT, and agreed that trainings need to be timely (occurring as policies are rolled out), done on-site (many cited NGOs in their region as partners for this) and coordinated so that all staff receive the training at the same time.

“[We need] training on the National [PMTCT] Plan for all HCWs at the same time, [and] coaching visits on-site so that the actual working conditions are appreciated.”—Community counselor

Level of motivation of health care workers

There was consensus that HCWs need to be more motivated (especially midwives and community counselors); many HCWs commented on the culture of financial incentives for PMTCT tasks and perceived these incentives to be important to HCW motivation.

“We must interest the HCWs [in PMTCT activities]… We have colleagues who mock us because we do not get paid anything extra for PMTCT activities.”—Midwife