Meaningful involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda through linkages between network groups and health facilities: An evaluation study
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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Psychology, health & medicine
Abstract
While community-based groups are able to provide vital support to people living
with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), their organizational and technical capacities are limited,
and they frequently operate in isolation from PLHIV groups. We evaluated a threeyear
project implemented by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Uganda to
increase the involvement of PLHIV in the HIV/AIDS response and to improve
access to and utilization of prevention, treatment, care, and support services for
households affected by HIV/AIDS. Information sources included project monitoring
data, interviews with 113 key informants, and 17 focus group discussions in 11
districts. The evaluation found that PLHIV groups reached large numbers of people
with education and awareness activities and made a growing number of referrals to
health facilities and community-based services. The project trained individuals living
openly with HIV as service providers in the community and at designated health
facilities. Their presence helped to reduce the stigma that previously deterred PLHIV
from seeking care and encouraged individuals to disclose their HIV status to spouses
and family members. The project has put into practice the widely endorsed principles
of greater and meaningful involvement of PLHIV in a systematic manner and on a
large scale. A wide audience – ranging from grassroots PLHIV networks and AIDS
service organizations to national-level non-governmental organizations, government
agencies, and international organizations – can benefit from the lessons learned.
Description
Keywords
HIV/AIDS, Meaningful involvement of people living with HIV, Uganda, Africa
Citation
Kim, Y. M., Kalibala, S., Neema, S., Lukwago, J., & Weiss, D. C. (2012). Meaningful involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda through linkages between network groups and health facilities: an evaluation study. Psychology, health & medicine, 17(2), 213-222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2011.592844