In South Africa, with the highest HIV population in the world, more than 5 million
people live with HIV and AIDS, and it is predicted that deaths because of AlDS will
rise sharply up to 2010 (Evian, 2003:20; UNAIDS, 2003:19). Because of this, great
numbers of patients in the final stages of AlDS need support and homecare in areas
with little resources.
In this context of limited resources it became necessary for communities and health
care services to investigate alternatives for cost-effective and sustainable methods to
care for patients with AIDS. Patients are often discharged home to die because the
hospital staff can do nothing but palliative care and they feel that resources and
space can be better utilised on patients with a greater chance of recovery (Jackson,
2002:232). The government and non-governmental organisations established a
number of homecare services to care for patients with AlDS at home. The
Potchefstroom-district is no exception; the question however arises whether the care
needs of these patients are addressed.
The objective of this research was to identify the physical, psychological, spiritual and
social needs of patients with AlDS for home care and the perceptions of caregivers of
what these needs are. The ultimate objective was to formulate recommendations
from the results for need-centred homecare for patients with AlDS in the
Potchefstroom-district.
A two-phased design was used to reach this objective. These two phases took place
simultaneously. During phase one, caregivers operated as fieldworkers and
completed questionnaires on behalf of the patients on their needs for homecare.
During phase two the perceptions of caregivers of patients with AIDS's needs for
homecare were determined using the nominal group technique. The director of
health of the local authority gave consent for this research. The population of phase
one consisted of available patients with AlDS in the Potchefstroom-district of the
Northwest Province that compiled to the prerequisites of the research. The
population of phase two consisted of a group of caregivers from another area that did
not take part in phase one. After they gave consent a total of 24 patients with AlDS
and 31 caregivers took part in the research. Data analysis in the case of the
questionnaires was done by frequency distribution and for the nominal groups during
the group sessions.
On the grounds of the results the conclusion was made that patients with AlDS
experience a great deal of hopelessness and that their needs are mostly on the first
level of basic needs, according to the Maslow needs hierarchy. Higher levels of
needs like self-concept needs and self-actualisation came to the attention in the need
for spiritual support especially from their own church community. Social and financial
needs were also identified. The caregivers stressed the need for equipment when
caring for these patients, as there is nothing available for basic homecare.
Caregivers identified needs that were not mentioned by the patients and vice versa.
For patients an important need was pain relieve which the caregivers did not
mention. It appears from this research that the need for the involvement of the
multidisciplinary team is not being addressed.
Based on the results of this research guidelines were formulated for registered
nurses, that train and supervise the caregivers, to ensure that these patients receive
the comprehensive care they deserve. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/967 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Bornman, Elsabé |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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