Obstetrics and Gynaecology

IMPACT OF COUNSELING ON COPING BEHAVIOUR OF HIV +ve PATIENTS

Multi-centre study coordinated by ICMR HQRs.
Counseling and psychological intervention are major components in care of people with HIV infection, their partners and their families. However, there is hardly any data pertaining to impact of such interventions.

This study was launched with the following objectives:

• To study the existing support facilities for the counseling to HIV+ve cases in different states
  
• To assess the impact at HIV+ve status upon their mental state.
• To find out the effectiveness of counseling upon coping behaviour of HIV +ve cases.

3 Psychologists were recruited and a training workshop for all participating centers was held at Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai. 200 subjects along with their controls were recruited for the study, who were all administered the preliminary questionnaire. The cases (i.e. HIV+ve subjects) were further administered psychological scales for assessing behavioural status.

Follow up of subjects was done 2-3 months after 1st interview. A total of 73 subjects were followed up who were re-administered the psychological scales.

50 counselors were also interviewed from various Government hospitals and NGO's in the city to assess their facilities, suitability and attitude.

Analysis of the data will be completed at our center after receiving definite guidelines from ICMR where data from other centers is still awaited.