The influence of adequate social support on adherence to HIV treatment on young adult females in a community in central Namibia

Date
2011-12
Authors
Ambayi, Julie
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study sought to establish the influence of adequate social support among young women in the age group 18 to 25 years, on adherence to HIV treatment in a community in Central Namibia. Bearing in mind that HIV comes with different degrees of stigmatisation in different communities, and the differences in how gender and age may affect coping mechanisms in the context of HIV infection, insight was deemed important. The aim of the study was to determine the extent to which social support influenced adherence to anti-retroviral treatment among young adult females infected with HIV, in order to improve adherence to treatment, treatment outcome as well as to provide guidance for effective health education campaigns. A quantitative research method was used which involved a survey. A written questionnaire with closed ended questions and a set number of responses was used in data collection, administered at selected HIV clinics by selected community counsellors in central Namibia. Qualitative research methods were also employed using interviews and focus group discussions. Interviews were conducted on selected men on HIV treatment attending the same clinics as the women involved in the questionnaires. In addition, focus group discussions were conducted with the healthcare providers from the selected clinics in central Namibia. The data from quantitative research was analysed using frequencies, averages, means, medians and basic correlations to derive the conclusion. Data from qualitative research methods was analysed using the coding system. The study showed that availability of adequate social support was uniquely associated with high levels of treatment adherence in young women infected with HIV. These results provide support for the continued psychosocial interventions in the management of HIV among those infected.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om die invloed van voldoende sosiale ondersteuning, onder jong vroue in die ouderdomsgroep van 18 tot 25 jaar, te ondersoek op die volgehoue gebruik van MIV behandeling in „n gemeenskap in sentraal Namibie. Die doel van die studie was om vas te stel tot watter mate sosiale ondersteuning die volgehoue gebruik van anti-retrovirale behandeling beinvloed, onder jong vroulike volwassenes wie met MIV geinfekteer is, met die doel om adherence tot behandeling, die uitkoms van behandeling sowel as om leiding te voorsien vir effektiewe gesondheids-opvoedingsveldtogte. „n Kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetode is gebruik, wat „n vraelys behels het. „n Geskrewe vraelys met geslote vrae en „n vasgestelde aantal antwoorde is tydens data insameling gebruik, wat by geselekteerde MIV klinieke deur geselekteerde gemeenskapsberaders in sentraal Namibie geadministreer is. Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is ook gebruik, deur middel van onderhoude en fokusgroep-besprekings. Onderhoude is gevoer met geselekteerde mans wat op MIV behandeling is wat by dieselfde klinieke bywoon as die vroue wat by die vraelyste betrokke is. Fokusgroep-besprekings is gehou met die gesondheidsorg-voorsieners van die geselekteerde klinieke in sentraal Namibie. Die data van kwantitatiewe navorsing is verwerk deur middel van frekwensies, gemiddeldes, mediane en basiese korrelasies om gevolgtrekkings te maak. Data van kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is verwerk met die gebruik van die kodering-stelsel. Die studie toon dat die beskikbaarheid van voldoende sosiale ondersteuning verbind kan word met hoë vlakke van volgehoue gebruik van behandeling onder jong vroue wie met MIV geinfekteer is. Die resultate dien as ondersteuning tot die volgehoue psigo-sosiale ingrypings in die bestuur van MIV onder die geinfekteerdes.
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Keywords
HIV-positive women -- Social support -- Namibia, Patient compliance -- Namibia, HIV infections -- Treatment -- Namibia, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management
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