AEGiS-13IAC: Role of hospital nurses in the care continuum of providing nursing and palliative care and support to advanced HIV positive patients at the community and home in Manipur.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Role of hospital nurses in the care continuum of providing nursing and palliative care and support to advanced HIV positive patients at the community and home in Manipur.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. MoOrB182)

Lourembam RD, Dr. Narendra Singh S, Nepram Singh V, Dr. Sachikumar Singh S
R.D. Lourembam, Epi Complex Lamphelpat, Imphal 795004, India, Tel.: +91 385 312 827, Fax: +91 385 312 827

BACKGROUND: Currently India is the country having the highest number of HIV +ve cases with 3.5 million people as estimated by UNAIDS. In India, Manipur is having the highest sero-prevalance rate with nearly 143 HIV +ve cases per 1000. Due to the inadequate resources and health care infrastructure in the region, nursing and palliative care at community and home level is considered to be the most appropriate kind of care and support for PLWHAs

ISSUES: Most of the seriously AIDS patients in a resource poor setting like Manipur can not access tertiary care at the hospitals manned by experienced and skilled nurses due to various reasons; lack of beds, Discriminatory attitude among many HCW, economic conditions etc. Hence, the need to provide nursing skills to the community workers, volunteers and family care-givers for both care and prevention of the epidemic has become a vital issue.

RESULTS: Although 43 AIDS patients were provided clinical treatment at the Govt. Hospital in the year 1998-99 and were suffering from different types of illnesses. All these cases were followed up at their respective homes and care services in the form of nursing care, counselling etc. were provided. Besides these services, the family members were trained and educated on providing appropriate care. This has resulted in enhancing the quality and quantity in the lives of the PLWHAs.

CONCLUSION: Scientific nursing care deliver to the patients (PLWHAs) helps in relieving from acute physical and psycho-emotional pain. It also inculcates in proper involvement of family members in providing care and support to the sick PLWHAs.

Keywords: AEGIS, Palliative Care, Continuity of Patient Care, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Family, Caregivers, Health Resources, Delivery of Health Care, Health Services Needs and Demand, Community Health Nursing, Home Nursing, Hospitals, India, Human, Male, nursing
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MoOrB182