ABSTRACT
The Centre for HIV/AIDS Research, Education and Services was accepted as part of the Community Outreach Services of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in 1989. The objective of the Centre was to enable persons living with HIV disease and their families to grasp the opportunities available to them to live dignified and productive lives. This study was conducted to assess the impact of utilization of services provided by the Centre. The records of clients enrolled in the centre from November 1995 to December 1997 were reviewed. The main variables examined were: age, gender, address, marital and employment status, referral source, household member composition and psychosocial assessment at initial interview and intervention. The results showed that the majority of clients were aged 20 to 49 years. 69 percent originated from the Kingston and St Andrew Metropolitan area. At least 42 percent were unemployed at the time of the initial interview. The majority were referred from UHWI and Kingston/St. Andrew non-governmental agencies and health centres. In 50 percent of cases the reason for referral was for counselling, education and involvement in support groups. Approximately 30 percent of clients had not disclosed their status to anyone at the point of initial interview and another 33 percent were going through the stages of grief reaction. The results suggested that a large percentage of clients utilizing the Centre were single, unemployed adults in the productive age groups, many of whom had limited psychosocial support. Future study is needed to evaluate the impact of interventions on the lives of these individuals.(AU)
