AEGiS-13IAC: Psychosocial problems associated with HIV/AIDS patients' care in Uganda; Mildmay Hospice experience:.

13th International AIDS Conference

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

Psychosocial problems associated with HIV/AIDS patients' care in Uganda; Mildmay Hospice experience:.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. ThOrB713)

Mugisha Kemirembe A, Sozi C, Mugisha E, Katuntu D, Bakunda A, Bakunda A, Tumusiime M
A. Mugisha Kemirembe, MildMay International, PO Box 22616, Kampala, Uganda, Tel.: +256 41 200 866, Fax: +256 41 200 861, E-mail: mildint2@infocom.co.ug

ISSUE:Despite the relatively cheap Institutional support for HIV/AIDS care at Mildmay Centre, HIV/AIDS patients still shy way from the service. The aim of the study was to find out the extent to which social and psychosocial problems affect the provision of quality services at Ugandan Health centres.

DESCRIPTION:At the Clinic, patients seeking HIV/AIDS care and treatment were closely observed with regard to their social and psychological behaviors, and the nature of the complaints they presented with or their relatives' complaints. It was noted that stigma was a major problem, both to the patient and the caretaker. Majority of the patients came to the clinic in stage three of disease progression, with multiple opportunistic infections and would usually be forced to the clinic by the relatives. The patients who presented early were characterized with false identity, multiple registrations with different names to avoid being known. They would try to get out of the centre as soon as possible, usually not completing all the necessary care procedures. Some families refuse to take patients to the clinic for fear of being associated with HIV/AIDS themselves. Some religious faiths in Uganda act as a deterrent to seeking HIV/AIDS care at all or early enough.Conclussion:Despite the massive education in Uganda, still some HIV/AIDS patients decline to go to health care centers because of stigma. There is need for more education and counseling about living positively. Some religious faiths and cultures need to be negated so as to fit into the modern health care systems, especially in the prevention and care of HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Hospices, Patient Care, Counseling, Health Services Needs and Demand, Learning, Uganda, Human
000709
ThOrB713