Obstetrics and Gynaecology

CARE AND NEEDS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS (PLWHA): A DIAGNOSTIC STUDY IN THE CONTEXT OF LONG TERM CARE

Project entitled Care and Needs of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) was initiated in December 2004 by the Social and Behavioural Research Unit of ICMR in 4 states (Maharastra, Manipal,Tamil Nadu and Delhi).

Objectives:
1. To identify the different types of care required by people living with HIV/AIDS and their needs.
2. To identify factors which facilitate/inhibit the long term care of people living with HIV/AIDS within the family and in community settings.

Methodology:
The study sample consists of people in the age group of 15-49 years living with HIV/AIDS (150) and their care givers (100).
The care givers will be both formal (50 volunteers or paid workers like Health Personnel, Social workers, Counselors) & informal (50 family members, life Partners and or any other people).
The groups will be identified through the NGOs and CBOs (Non governmental and Community Based Organisations) through the State AIDS Control Societies (SACS).
Data collection will be on Semi-structured Interview Schedules for both the HIV/AIDS cases and care givers.
The duration of the study is 20 months.