Psychosocial care of people living with HIV : the case of Tzaneen, South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The overall objective of this study was to ascertain whether lay counsellors offerpsychosocial counselling to clients at antiretroviral therapy clinics. The study wasconducted at two clinics in the Greater Tzaneen municipality, Limpopo province, SouthAfrica. The sample of 14 consisted of seven female lay counsellors and seven HIVpositive clients, three females and four males, at Xihlovo and Nyeleti antiretroviralclinics. They were interviewed using 11-item and 12-item interview guides, respectively.Interviews were conducted in the local languages. Qualitative data were collected forthe study. The data were audiotaped, translated, transcribed and then categorised intoa thematic framework. HIV positive participants were found to be suffering frompsychosocial consequences of living with HIV, such as shock, denial, anger and blame,fear of death, fear of disclosure, and intimate-partner violence. However, lay counsellorsdid not offer effective counselling that could relieve the psychosocial consequences.They instead used religion to console clients, discouraged clients from expressing theirfeelings, and minimised their clients' concerns. It is recommended that lay counsellorsbe taught basic counselling theories as part of their training so that they are better ableto screen their clients for psychosocial problems and provide basic counselling.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University