Home Based Care for HIV/AIDS in the Agogo Sub District

Abstract

AIDS is now a major cause of morbidity and mortality in most Sub-Saharan African countries, in the absence o f a cure, many adults suffer long chronic illness, medical services already inadequate are over stretched. Many hospitals are unable to deal with the huge caseload of patients with HIV/AIDS, this has necessitated strategies for AIDS management that combines Home-based care (HBC) with hospital intervention where required. The form that a HBC programme takes depends on the socio-cultural system prevailing in the area. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, behaviour and practices of home-based care community volunteers, in- family caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS, and family members without AIDS in eight communities with a home-based care programme in the Agogo sub district of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The study further examined community participation in the home-based care programme and the effect of the programme on the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to elicit information from participants. Thirty-two participants formed the Focus Group Discussion, while sixtyfive people were involved in the survey. In-depth interviews were held with the coordinators of the home-base care programme and people living with HIV/AIDS. The study found an increase in knowledge and positive attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS amongst HBC community volunteers and in-family caregivers; this had translated into a change in sexual behaviour. Family members without AIDS had average knowledge and negative attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS, fewer of them had changed sexual behaviour. Although the communities’ sense of ownership of the HBC programme was rather low, PLWHA who have accessed the HBC programme have free medical care and feel less stigmatised. The study recommends that government integrate home-based care into existing activities for HIV/AIDS in other to overcome social barriers to care, and to serve as a source of information, education, and communication on HIV/AIDS.