Home-based care provided to HIV and AIDS infected patients in Onandjokwe health district, Namibia
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Date
2006
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Abstract
Namibia is a country with a high prevalence of HIV infection. Similar to many hospitals and health facilities around the country, Onandjokwe Health District is experiencing social, economic and health care problems related to HIV/AIDS patients. The home-based care option is seen as an alternative to cater for the needs of the HIV/AIDS patient with the support of family members and communities. People who are involved in providing home-based care are usually non-professionals caregivers who sometimes have little or no training with regard to the health care of HIV/AIDS-infected persons. Thepurpose of this study was to explore the home-based care provided to HIV/AIDS-infected patients and the problems caregivers face. The study was undertaken in order to meet the following specific objectives: to describe the profile of home-based caregivers of HIV/AIDS-infected patients in Onandjokwe Health District; to determine the knowledge home-based caregivers of HIV/AIDS patients in Onandjokwe Health District have about HIV and AIDS; to explain protective measures used by home-based caregivers of HIV and AIDS patients in Onandjokwe Health District; to explore the personal experiences of home-based caregivers of HIV/AIDS-infected patients in Onandjokwe Health District; and to identify the type of support provided to HIV/AIDS-infected patients by home-based caregivers
A survey was conducted among selected non-professional caregivers in various villages of Onandjokwe Health District. A questionnaire that was developed in English and translated into Oshindonga to overcome a possible language barrier was used to gather the data
The findings revealed that the majority of caregivers were females between 15 and 66 years. Primary caregivers were family members and relatives. The majority of the respondents was unemployed and poor, and survived in difficult conditions. The study revealed a lack of transport and that non-professional caregivers travelled long distances to reach health facilities. Many of them had inadequate training in home-based care and limited knowledge of HIV and AIDS infection
The research findings reveal that home-based caregivers face problems in caring for patients at home in Onandjokwe Health District
Some of the problems mentioned by non-professional caregivers included lack of resources such as money, food, medicine, home-based care kits and gloves; lack of information; discrimination; neglect; rejection and stigmatization. These problems prevented people with HIV/AIDS from looking for health care and social services in their communities
One of the recommendations to improve home-based care is to develop strategies that will make it effective and sustainable at the community level. It is highly recommended that a partnership be established which will help to build collaboration between government, community groups and NGOs.
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Home health care, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome