 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Nelson Keyonzo, MSc, Grace Muro, MSc, Esabella Neeso, Diploma Nursing, and Elizabeth Makule, Diploma Nursing. Pathfinder International-Tanzania, 9 Galen Street, Suite 217, Watertown, MA 02130, 617-924-7200, ghainsworth@pathfind.org
Community-based care (CBC) is part of a continuum of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support. CBC provides people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) with basic nursing care, treatment of opportunistic infections, and linkages to health facilities and community services. A major function of CBC is to train family members to care for PLWHA and to mobilize communities in prevention, care, and support efforts. Pathfinder conducted a needs assessment in CBC project areas of Dar-es-Salaam. A sample of 602 people, mainly PLWHA, were selected from three municipalities of Dar-es-Salaam and interviewed. Focus groups were held with PLWHA, orphans, and caretakers, and interviews were conducted with facility-based providers.
The findings revealed that 60% of respondents could not perform normal daily activities and only 7% had access to CBC. 40% of respondents reported the need for more medical treatment and home visits. Seven out of ten households did not have adequate food supplies. Two-thirds of respondents experienced stigma and discrimination and only half had information on “living positively” with HIV/AIDS. Only one out of five health facilities had a referral system to link discharged patients to CBC. The study included 171 households caring for orphans, of which 27% received some form of assistance from family members or community organizations.
The results indicate that there is high demand for CBC, but that CBC is not yet widely accessible in Dar-es-Salaam. Pathfinder is using the results of the needs assessment to guide CBC program design and the training of community health workers in Dar-es-Salaam and Arusha.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Community-Based Care, HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.