''Factors affecting Utilization of Community Home Based Care Services by people living with HIV/AIDS in Chongwe District, Zambia''

Abstract

Zambia, like many other countries is experiencing the crisis of the Human Immune Deficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic with a prevalence rate of 14.7%. Community home based care (CHBC) is one of the ways of responding to the crisis. No known study in Zambia to ascertain factors that attract or repel PLWHA to utilizing CHBC is available. This study focused on bringing out clients‟ and CHBC workers‟ concerns, experiences and suggestions regarding utilization of CHBC by PLWHA.The objective of the study was to establish factors affecting utilisation of CHBC services by PLWHA.A total number of 161 PLWHA attending ART in Chongwe district were selected using systematic random sampling. Purposive sampling for CHBC providers was used to select CHBC groups. There were two FGDs conducted in each ART static study site one with a faith-based organization and one with an NGO CHBC group.The level of clients who at least had an encounter with a CHBC was 57.7% though at the time of the study, the number of clients who were actually being attended to had gone down to 54.7%. PLWHA were very satisfied only with psychosocial support. Generally, there was a highly significant association (P < 0.001) between type of care received, in particular psychosocial counselling and satisfaction. The results showed that PLWHA were dissatisfied with the staff attitudes as well as quantity and quality of supplies. Our empirical investigation has identified and demonstrated important associations between utilisation and satisfaction in CHBC. Exploratory and descriptive case studies using local survey data could be used to gain information about CHBC services. Noting that utilisation and knowledge of CHBC is unsatisfactory, there is a need to educate the public through various media on what CHBC provide and what types of CHBC organizations may be present in an area. There is also need to strengthen CHBC groups in order to adequately meet the needs of PLWHA.