Idemili-Aronu N, Okoli IA, et al.
Women living with HIV face elevated cancer risk from compromised immunity, making integrated care that includes palliative care essential, yet significant gaps in palliative care integration persist in resource-limited settings such as Nigeria. This qualitative study interviewed 24 healthcare providers from facilities across six geopolitical zones, affiliated with the Nigeria Implementation Science Alliance-Model Innovation and Research Centres, using key informant and in-depth interviews analyzed thematically. Providers identified distance to facilities, inadequate training and resources, sociocultural stigma, and fragmented care systems as key barriers, while healthcare worker incentives, community engagement, patient education, and infrastructural improvements served as facilitators. Findings point to the need for targeted policy interventions, provider training, and resource allocation to strengthen palliative care infrastructure for women managing HIV and cancer.
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