Patient and practitioner perceptions of promoters and inhibitors of health seeking behaviour among African men accessing HIV health services in Kwa-Zulu Natal

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Men might benefit from opportunities specific to their needs in improving access to HIV care. This is a group vulnerable to higher morbidity and mortality than their female counterparts, due not only to poor or delayed health seeking behaviour and the culture of blame for the transmission of HIV, but probably due to neglect, inadequate or poor support by the current policies, by a gender biased research agenda, by the international research community and global health funders.Objectives: The objectives of this current study were:- to explore the reasons for poor health seeking behaviour amongst African men seeking HIV care in KZN;- to establish the health care practitioners' views about the reasons for the perceived poor health seeking behaviour amongst African men accessing HIV services in KZN;- to inform guidelines in improving access to HIV services by African men MethodologyIn-depth interviews were employed as the method of obtaining lived experiences, perspectives and opinions of men living with HIV and that of their health care practitioners.ResultsIt was found that men still feared the diagnosis of being HIV positive, even with the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and the advances in managing this disease.Several reasons for this fear emerged with the common theme being the doom of impending death, social stigma and fear of abandonment as well as social marginalization.ConclusionsWe cannot expect to attract men to predominantly female orientated settings within health faculties. Special attempts need to be made to reach out to men in places they are comfortable being in. Messages should be clear and concise about the effectiveness of low cost, available treatment for HIV; and that early diagnosis improves health outcomes. Cultural sensitive interventions are needed that are suitable, in generating a clearer understanding of health management options and motives.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University