AIDS home care: a baseline survey in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT

The research was undertaken during the first half of 1992; and data sought on 150 organisations throughout Zimbabwe. Of these; 25 organisations nationwide were visited by the research team and the rest were sent questionnaires. At least 24 are providing AIDS home care services; and a further 30 or more have investigated developing home care; have trained nursing and other staff in home care; and/or are just beginning to implement a programme. Organisations with AIDS home care programmes included AIDS service organistions and NGOs; mission hospitals and clinics and district hospitals. By the end of 1992 over 50 AIDS home care programmes should operational in Zimbabwe. In addition to visiting agencies; the researchers made 21 home visits with various home care teams; and were able to interview relatives or patients in 15 homes. This provided valuable opportunities for seeing the teams in action; and gaining first hand insights from the families themselves about their needs and how the services had assisted them. The organisational base and structure of the programmes varies considerably. Some programmes are community based and others are institution (hospital) based outreach programmes; and programmes exist in rural and urban areas. Some are staffed entirely by professional health workers; and others utilise volunteers with varying levels of training. Home care for AIDS; usually part of a wider home care programme for the chronically sick and others; but there are also vertical programmes only catering for patients with AIDS. [abstract terminated]