Care Provision Challenges and Capacity Enhancement of Family Caregivers of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Thika District.
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Date
2013
Authors
Kathuri-Ogola, L. N.
Kerre, F. P.
Mugenda, Olive M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) often require specialized care
especially from those closely related to them. The task of caregiving to PLWHA
can be a daunting undertaking in view of the fact that there is no validated cure
yet to HIVIAIDS. Most of this care for the PLWHA takes place in the home and is
likely to be done by afamily member. However, very little is understood about the
challenges these caregivers encounter and their proposed strategies to enh ance
their care provision capacity. The study therefore, sought to investigate the
challenges of care provision and capacity enhancement strategies of family
caregivers (FCGs) of PLWHA in Thika District. Data collection was done using
interview schedules for a sample of 177 FCGs and Focus Group Discussion
(FGDs) with 40 Community Health Workers (CHWs). Data was analyzed both
quantitatively and qualitatively. The results showed that over four fifths (93%) of
the FCGs experienced care provision challenges. Th ese challenges included
inadequate finances (83%), food provision (56%), stress (52%), stigma and
isolation (32%), inadequate medicine and supplies (24%), difficult care recipient
(19%) and strain on children education (13%). The FCGs proposed strategies
which they felt could enhance their capacity namely; economic empowerment
(69%), regular training (58%), psychological support (42%), stigma reduction
(30%) and sustained provision of medicine and supplies (17%). In order to
enhance the FCGs capacity as will as improve the quality of care provided to
PLWHA the FCGs would need an effective and sustained implementation of these
strategies.