Enhancing capacities of people living with HIV volunteers in providing home based care to people living with AIDS in Chon Buri Province, Thailand

Abstract

Almost all people living with AIDS (PLWAs) suffer from physical, psychosocial, and economical problems. The impact of AIDS includes strong phobia of contagion, stigmatization, and negligence. Some family members discriminate PLWAs because they think that AIDS might be transmitted by casual contact which result in denial of providing care and support to the PLWAs. After a certain period, most of the PLWAs face self-care deficit and require family and community efforts in providing compensatory care and support. Therefore, a quality home based care is a major key to help the PLWAs to maintain their well being at home. The ''Enhancing Capacities of People Living with H IV (PLWH) Volunteers in providing Home Based Care to People Living with AIDS” project was proposed in aiming to improve care for PLWAs at home. The target groups were PLWH volunteers from the four self-help groups, PLWAs, and their families. The project was initiated and will be implemented during 18 months consisting of two phases. The first phase focused on formal, resource-intensive training to build capacity among PLWH volunteers to provide home care. During the second phase, the PLWH volunteers will be required to pass on their skills to build ability of family members to provide care to PLWAs. The conceptual framework used in this project was derived from the Orem Self-Care Deficit Theory. According to Orem, if there is a self-care deficit, there is a need for compensatory care in order to help the person to maintain their well being. The approach of the project was to mobilize PLWH and family for initiating home care. The two main strategies used in this project were supportive educative assistance and provision of the compensatory care. The project is expected to benefit the PLWH volunteers, family members in coping with home based care needs, and satisfy home care needs of PLWAs. A t the end of the first phase, success of the projected was demonstrated. It was found that the PLWH volunteers were able to function as home care providers. The clients were satisfied with the care received. The second phase started immediately after the first phase and will continue until July 2003 where all home care are expected to transfer responsibilities to the caregivers’ hands.