AEGiS-15IAC: Lessons learnt in assessment of home based care practices in rural communities of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Lessons learnt in assessment of home based care practices in rural communities of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. ThPeD7846)

Rozani N, Mwesigwa-Kayongo CD, Bodipo-Memba A
University of Traskei, Umtata, South Africa

ISSUES: HIV/AIDS is a growing crisis in South Africa. The EC is faced with a large number of patients who are sick with Aids. Hospitals are full and there is a need for these patients to be taken care of at home. The majority of these patients are sent home from work in big cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. They are often the breadwinners in their families.

DESCRIPTION: This assessment was aimed at uncovering knowledge, practices, attitudes and structural factors influencing rural communities in the EC in dealing with caring for the sick family members. Fourteen in depth interviews were conducted in the 4 local service areas of the Oliver Tambo District Eastern Cape. The staff of the stepdown unit and community health workers were interviewed. The functioning of Ubuntu (humanness) among the rural villages is important to acknowledge and it plays a role in improving home-base care. The level of cooperation varies among the different districts and villages. However, Ubuntu is being threatened by poverty and HIV/AIDS. This directly impacts the effectiveness of home-based care and any interventions that are to be planned to improve care in the home. From both the reports given by CHWs and in-depth interviews, the person identified as the caregiver in the family was a female member of the household. The person is usually identified as the mother. Also grandmothers, aunts and daughters were identified as the caregivers. The issue of income plays a role in the ability to provide adequate care for a sick relative. Traditional healers play a major role. Lessons: Ubuntu should be encouraged in all communities. Support for the caregivers should be provided. Support for CHWs caring for these families is necessary. Social support for all families caring for the sick. Traditional healers should be given health information.

RECOMMENDATIONS: This study will be used as basis to develop monitoring tools for the Stepdown unit.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Rural Population, HIV Infections, Community Health Aides, Caregivers, Family, Learning, South Africa, Home Care Services, Family Characteristics, Counseling, Housing, Health Services, Residence Characteristics, HIV Seropositivity, Research, Female, Humans, methods, organization & administration

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ThPeD7846