Table 2

Profile of each sub-district: population, type of service provision (centralised, decentralised), number of people on ART at time of research

Sub-districtBushbuckridgeHlabisaSowetoMitchells Plain
SettingRural MpumalangaRural KwaZulu-NatalUrban GautengUrban Western Cape
Population size+/−500 000228 000>1 million290 000
Health service

  • One district and one regional hospital

  • One CHC

  • 33 PHC clinics

  • One district hospital

  • 15 PHC clinics

  • One national central and one TB hospital

  • Five CHCs

  • 26 PHC clinics

  • Three CHC

  • 10 PHC clinics

Model of ART service provision at time of research (2008/2009)Separate (doctor based) clinics within outpatient departments of two local hospitals with plans for down referral of stable cases to two nurse-based CHCsDecentralised nurse-based service in all 16 service delivery sites since late 2007Long-standing large clinics (adult and paediatric) in central hospital, decentralised doctor based services in four CHCs and one PHC clinicDoctor-based services in three CHCs
Numbers on ART (date)3900 (March 2008)7576 (December 2008)±28 500 (December 2009)4843 (October 2008)
HIV prevalence in 2008/2009 antenatal clinic survey of pregnant women (by district)34.9% (Ehlanzeni district)39.9% (Umkhanyakude district)29.7% (City of Johannesburg)17.9% (Cape Metropole)

  • ART, antiretroviral treatment; CHC, Community Health Centres; PHC, Primary Health Care.