Barcelona 2013
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| Abstract #166 - E-Posters English | ||||
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Session: 50.18: E-Posters English (Poster) on Sunday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Shan Qiao - wayne state univeristy , United States |
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| Additional Authors: Dr. Jordi Casabona, Sra Cristina Sanclemente, Dra. Anna Esteve, Dra. Victoria Gonzalez, Grupo HIVITS TS, | ||||
| Aim: In 2006, Chinese government promulgated the Regulations on Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS, requiring related health institutes to deliver follow-up service for people living with HIV/AID (PLH) since their HIV positive diagnosis. Follow-up service has become an important component for case management and epidemiologic surveillance, but its other psychosocial benefits for PLH have yet been adequately studied. This qualitative study aims to describe the implementation of the follow-up service for PLH, explore its benefits in providing PLH social support, and to identify factors affecting the quality of service. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 42 people living with HIV/AIDS and 28 health care workers and paraprofessionals who were engaged in HIV prevention in Guangxi, China. All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. All transcripts were uploaded to Atlas.ti v5.0 and analyzed by thematic content analysis methods. To ensure the quality of coding, each transcript was independently coded by two research staff. The discrepancies between two coders were adequately discussed and resolved before further analysis. | ||||
| Results / Comments: The follow-up services for PLH included updating information on their health status, conducting CD4 testing, disseminating knowledge of HIV prevention and treatment, distributing free condoms, preparing PLH necessary documents for applying government subsidies, and providing other consulting services. These services were delivered through two approaches: phone interviewing, or clinic-based consulting conducted by health care workers in local Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and house-visiting by paraprofessionals in local communities. Generally, PLH were contacted every 3 to 6 months and they were also able to receive follow-up services by visiting CDC clinics and by phone calls on business day. Most of PLH appreciated support from the follow-up service in terms of psychological adjustment, partner disclosure, and HIV treatment information. Health care workers in CDC were main source of information support on HIV testing and treatment resources, secondary prevention, and medicine adherence. Paraprofessionals in communities provided emotional support from the HIV diagnosis to treatment, particularly in issues of partner disclosure and family relationship. However, the quality of follow-up service might be influenced by several contextual factors. Stigma against AIDS in local community and high mobility of PLH made it difficult to track their information. A lack of human resource in CDC resulted in heavy workload and job stress, which negatively affected quality of service. Paraprofessionals needed more training to improve their knowledge and skills required by follow-up service. | ||||
| Discussion: The follow-up service is an approach enhancing social support for PLH, and plays a positive role in preventing secondary transmission, increasing medicine adherence, and improving psychological well-being of PLH. By sustainably providing high quality of follow-up services, health care workers may be able to build up mutual respect and trust relationship with PLH, which will provide a solid ground for implementation of HIV prevention and treatment interventions. More collaboration between CDC approach and community approach are needed to maximize existing resources and efforts to overcome difficulties of delivering follow-up services. | ||||
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