{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T15:18:42Z","timestamp":1785424722927,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"48","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]],"date-time":"2025-10-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761868800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background:\u00a0Healthcare practitioners are required to keep patient information private, though sharing is sometimes necessary for patient care, risking confidentiality breaches that can compromise privacy rights. Professional nurses lead HIV prevention, treatment, and care services, but issues like loss to follow-up and confidentiality breaches leading patients to move between clinics to hide their status pose challenges.\nObjectives:\u00a0This study explored factors influencing professional nurses\u2019 ability to maintain confidentiality in primary healthcare facilities in OR Tambo, Eastern Cape, aiming to develop intervention strategies.\nMethod:\u00a0A qualitative, descriptive, contextual design was used. Nineteen purposively sampled professional nurses participated in semi-structured interviews until data saturation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed using Tesch\u2019s method.\nResults:\u00a0Findings revealed that confidentiality is impacted by resource shortages, limited knowledge, negative attitudes, and inadequate training. Challenges vary across facilities, but nurses recognize the importance of confidentiality. Participants suggested the need for ongoing training on guidelines and consent procedures to uphold confidentiality.\nConclusion:\u00a0Strengthening confidentiality in HIV care requires comprehensive strategies, including staff empowerment, infrastructure improvements, and initiatives to positively influence staff attitudes.\nContribution:\u00a0These insights can guide the development of targeted interventions, inform curriculum enhancements, and support future research initiatives.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/curationis.v48i1.2768","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,22]],"date-time":"2025-10-22T07:49:50Z","timestamp":1761119390000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Barriers and facilitators to maintaining confidentiality for HIV and AIDS patients in OR Tambo, Eastern Cape"],"prefix":"10.4102","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-1303-4316","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ntombesitatu","family":"Qotoyi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/02svzjn28","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Walter Sisulu University"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5062-751X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Agrinette N.","family":"Madolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/02svzjn28","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Walter Sisulu University"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Barnie, B.A., Forson, P.K., Opare-Addo, M.N., Appiah-Poku, J., Oduro, G., Adu-Sarkodie, Y. et al., 2015, \u2018Knowledge and perceptions of health workers\u2019 training on ethics, confidentiality, and medico-legal issues\u2019, Journal of Clinical Research and Bioethics 6(1), 205. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4172\/2155-9627.1000205","DOI":"10.4172\/2155-9627.1000205"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bayisa, L., Wakuma, B., Abera, T., Mulisa, D., Mosisa, G., Tolosa, T. et al., 2022, \u2018Are the things told to care providers kept confidential? 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