QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF AN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME FOR COMMUNITY CAREGIVERS TO FACILITATE HIV AND AIDS PATIENTS’ ADHERENCE TO ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT

This study is based on Intervention Research, where initially a literature study and a needs assessment of community caregivers regarding the content of an empowerment programme for caregivers to facilitate HIV and AIDS patients’ adherence to antiretroviral treatment, were undertaken. From these results an empowerment programme for caregivers was developed. In this article the evaluation of the programme will be reported on by means of quantitative measurement. An experimental design was utilised with both groups comprising of 12 caregivers with a pre-test, post-test and post-post-test. The results of the measurement indicated that the community caregivers were empowered and that such an empowerment programme is needed.KEY WORDS: Evaluation, quantitative, psychosocial functioning, empowerment programme, community caregivers, HIV and AIDS, adherence, antiretroviral treatment.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/tbb.v82i1.195

THE CHALLENGES AND PERCEPTIONS OF COMMUNITY CAREGIVERS WITH REGARD TO ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT ADHERENCE OF PATIENTS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

Although there is no cure for HIV and AIDS, antiretroviral treatment has transformed this disease into a manageable chronic illness. Relatively little is known about the experiences and psychosocial challenges that community caregivers of HIV and AIDS home community-based care programmes experience in ensuring patent adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART). This article describes the results of a phenomenological study to explore these perceptions of community caregivers. Focus group discussions were facilitated with community caregivers and they made narrative reflections in journals to gain insight into their everyday world and experiences of dealing with the challenges of patients on antiretroviral treatment, as well as noting their suggestions for interventions to ensure adherence to antiretroviral treatment