A study of the role of the patient advocate as ‘a social support structure’, in HIV/AIDS medication adherence, in Dimbaza and Zwelitsha Clinics in the Province of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Kamana, Nomfundo Lucy (2011-03)
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of the community adherence counsellors or patient advocates (PAs) on antiretroviral medication adherence as a form of social support. In the battle against HIV/AIDS patient advocates have been used to do basic psychosocial assessment and to document the patients' social issues, focusing on factors which might have an impact on the patients' adherence. This is to evaluate issues that might impact on long-term adherence. In many cases it may be necessary to do a home visit. The research sought to identify the existing social support structures available in the clinic and the patients' perceptions of such support. It is also important to identify whether there are any discrepancies on the social support given, based on the patients' perceptions.
The study sample included Xhosa and English speaking individuals over the age of 18 years receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS. The study participants were recruited at two out-patients settings in Dimbaza and Zwelitsha, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A descriptive, exploratory, cross sectional design was utilized to explore the nature of the relationship among social support and other selected variables including socio-demographic variables and quality of life.
Participants reported being fairly satisfied with the quality of support they received. Emotional support and often instrumental support were most desired. The support they received helps people with HIV/AIDS to manage uncertainty. The provision of instrumental support facilitated skills development. Adherence counselling tasks can be shifted to lay cadres like patient advocates without compromising the quality of counselling. Patient advocacy within the community is necessary to improve retention of clients on antiretroviral therapy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om die impak van die gemeenskap nakomings raadgewers of pasiёnt advokate (PAs) op antiretrovirale nakoming as 'n vorm van sosiale ondersteuning te ondersoek. In die stryd teen MIV/VIGS is pasiёnt advokate reeds gebruik om basiese psigo-sosiale evaluering te doen en om die pasiёnte se sosiale kwessies te dokumenteer, en om te fokus op faktore wat 'n impak het op nakoming kan hê. Dus om op kwessies te fokus wat 'n impak op langterm nakoming kan hê. In vele gevalle kan dit dalk noodsaaklik wees om 'n huisbesoek te doen. Die navorsing het gepoog om die bestaande sosiale steunstrukture binne die kliniek te identifiseer asook die pasiёnte se persepsies daarvan. Dit is ook belangrik om uit te vind of daar enige wanverhoudings met betrekking tot sosiale ondersteuning is, volgens die pasiёnte se persepsies.
Die studie steekproef het Xhosa en Engelssprekende individue bo 18 jaar ingesluit wie behandeling vir MIV/VIGS ontvang. Die deelnemers is by twee buitepasiёnte terreine in Dimbaza en Zwelitsha, Oos-Kaap provinsie, gewerf. 'n Beskrywende, nasporings, deursnee-ontwerp is gebruik om die aard van die verhouding onder gemeenskapsondersteuning en ander veranderlikes, insluitend sosio-demografiese veranderlikes en lewenskwaliteit, te ondersoek.
Deelneemers was taamlik tevrede met die kwaliteit van die ondersteuning wat hulle gekry het. Emosionele ondersteuning, en dikwels instrumentele ondersteuning, was mees begeer. Die ondersteuning wat hulle gekry het help mense met MIV/VIGS om onsekerheid te bestuur. Die voorsiening van instrumentele ondersteuning het die ontwikkeling van vaardighede vergemaklik. Nakomingsraadgewing take kan vir gewone persone soos pasiёnte advokate gegee word sonder om die kwaliteit van die raadgewing negatief te affekteer nie. Pasiёnte advoksie in die gemeenskap is noodsaklik om die retensie van kliёnte op antiretrovirale terapie te verbeter.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6671