| dc.description.abstract | This study aimed at assessing the perspectives of caregivers about adherence counselling for children seeking HIV care and treatment at Kalisizo General Hospital. The study focused on the experiences of caregivers of children with HIV to understand factors that influence attendance of Intensive Adherence Counselling (IAC) sessions and measures necessary to ensure sustainability of a suppressed viral load for children. A descriptive cross-sectional study design utilizing in-depth interviews as well as focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted to collect data on caregiver experiences. Respondents were selected purposively and sample size determined following the principle of data saturation. Individual face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty three caregivers of children on IAC, key informant interviews with two health workers and two focus group discussions were also conducted. Data was analyzed manually and presented into themes. Loss of family contacts, fear of side effects, insecure jobs and grief were some of the experiences of caregivers taking care of a child with HIV before enrollment for Intensive Adherence Counselling. Factors like transport costs, discouragement and logistics, poor quality counselling, early closure of services at the health facility, schedule for appointments and reminders from health workers were hindrances to attendance of IAC sessions by caregivers. Support for disclosure, patient education, more frequent support group meetings, social support and adherence interventions, improved quality of counselling and economic empowerment were some of the copying mechanisms adopted to ensure a sustained suppressed viral load for children by caregivers and health workers. More emphasis should be put on deriving ways to promote sustained adherence to ART by children through the help of their caregivers and health workers with social support prioritized. | en_US |
