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

• Main Author: Mashele, Steven Charles
• Other Authors: Joyner, Kate
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
• Subjects: HIV-positive persons > Care > South Africa > Tzaneen; AIDS (Disease) > Patients > Care; HIV infections > Social aspects > South Africa > Tzaneen; Dissertations > Nursing; Theses > Nursing
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/19978

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The overall objective of this study was to ascertain whether lay counsellors offer psychosocial counselling to clients at antiretroviral therapy clinics. The study was conducted at two clinics in the Greater Tzaneen municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa. The sample of 14 consisted of seven female lay counsellors and seven HIV positive clients, three females and four males, at Xihlovo and Nyeleti antiretroviral clinics. They were interviewed using 11-item and 12-item interview guides, respectively. Interviews were conducted in the local languages. Qualitative data were collected for the study. The data were audiotaped, translated, transcribed and then categorised into a thematic framework. HIV positive participants were found to be suffering from psychosocial consequences of living with HIV, such as shock, denial, anger and blame, fear of death, fear of disclosure, and intimate-partner violence. However, lay counsellors did not offer effective counselling that could relieve the psychosocial consequences. They instead used religion to console clients, discouraged clients from expressing their feelings, and minimised their clients’ concerns. It is recommended that lay counsellors be taught basic counselling theories as part of their training so that they are better able to screen their clients for psychosocial problems and provide basic counselling. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die algehele doelwit van dié studie is om te bepaal of leke-beraders psigo-sosiale berading aan kliënte by die die anti-retrovale terapie klinieke bied. Kwalitatiewe data is vir dié studie versamel. Die studie is by twee klinieke in die groter Tzaneenmunisipaliteit in Limpopo provinsie in Suid‐Afrika gedoen. Die eksperimentele groep van 14 het bestaan uit sewe vroulike leke-beraders en sewe MIV-positiewe kliënte: drie vrouens en vier mans, by Xihlovo en Nyeleti anti-retrovale klinieke. Daar was onderskeidelike onderhoude met hulle gevoer en die 11-item en 12-item onderhoudriglyne is toegepas. Onderhoude is in inheemse tale gevoer. Die data was opgeneem, vertaal, getranskribeer en in 'n tematiese raamwerk vasgevang. Daar is gevind dat die MIV-positiewe persone negatiewe psigo-sosiale gevolge ervaar: skok, ontkenning, woede, blaam, vrees vir die dood, vrees dat hul status openbaar sal word, asook geweld binne hul verhoudings. Leke-beraders het egter nie doeltreffende berading gegee om bogenoemde psigo-sosiale gevolge te verlig nie. Hulle het eerder godsdiens gebruik in 'n poging om hul kliënte te vertroos, nie die kliënte aangemoedig om hul gevoelens uit te druk nie en hul gevoelens en kommer afgemaak. Daar word aanbeveel dat leke-beraders basiese beradingsteorie as deel van hul opleiding ontvang sodat hulle psigo-sosiale probleme in hul kliente kan uitken en beter basiese berading kan verskaf.