ASSESSMENT OF HIV/AIDS CARE AND SUPPORT IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AT DEBRE MARKOS TOWN

Abstract

Introduction: People with HIV/AIDS experience a variety of health care problems, psychological traumas, stigma, and rejection by family members, friends and even medical personnel. If some amount of relief and normality can be given to them by ensuring proper care and support in the hospitals and in the community, as also protection of their right or privacy and other human right; suffering is reduced and improvement is seen in their living condition. Objective: The main objective of this study to assess HIV/AIDS care and support of adult people living with HIV/AIDS in Debre Markos. Methods: The study employed qualitative research and descriptive research design to obtained information concerning the status of HIV/AIDS care and support of adult people living with HIV/AIDS. In-depth interview (for twenty PLWHA), and key informant interview (for two organization officials) were conducted. Nonprobability, purposive sampling was carried out to select respondents. An interview administer pretested semi structured questionnaire was used. Determining analytical themes began with through reading of each transcribe interview in order to identify categories from the data. Then, cases prepared according to the analytical categories. Ethical clearance obtained from St. Marry University College, Addis Ababa research department. Result: Medical and Clinical care is one of the main care and support delivered to PLHIV. All of the participants had got medical care. But the economic support to PLHIV was minimal due to financial shortage of organizations. The most unmet need of PLHIV was house. Organizations involvement in care and support was limited. Conclusion: Among the four components of care and support medical and clinical care and psychosocial support particularly spiritual support were good. Even though there was economic support, but the support was not sufficient to solve PLHIV problems. In addition human right and legal support were not practically given to PLHIVs.