Quality Of Care For People Living With Hiv/Aids In Morogoro Municipality

ABSTRACT

Assessment of the quality of care services provided to people living with HIV/AIDS

(PLWHA) was undertaken in Morogoro Municipality whereby a cross sectional survey

approach was adopted. Ninety people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) from two NGOs

that are well known to support PLWHA in Morogoro Municipality were involved. The

two NGOs were namely Faraja Trust Fund (FTF) and Wanaoishi na Virusi vya Ukimwi

Morogoro (WAVUMO) which is an association of people living with HIV/AIDS in

Morogoro. Data was collected by using a structured questionnaire, which incorporated a

care score index that was developed by the researcher, and administered through face-toface

interviews. Descriptive and inferential methods of data analysis were used. Various

stakeholders in Morogoro Municipality provided different types of care services to

PLWHA. Health services were provided mainly by the Morogoro Regional Hospital and

the NGOs of Faraja Trust Fund (FTF) and Wanaoishi na Virusi vya Ukimwi Morogoro

(WAVUMO). Counselling and support was being provided by almost all stakeholders

mainly the Morogoro Regional Hospital. Families were reported to be the primary care

provider in home-based care services. The quality of various care services was determined

by using a care score. The highest proportion of respondents (73.4%) reported high quality

of care in the home-based care component, while the lowest (7.8%) proportion was in the

awareness and practice of PMTCT. Most of the respondents perceived counselling and

home-based care services they were getting to be good (43.3% and 70.8%, respectively).

Seven variables were tested for important factors determining the extent of care quality

among various components of care. Results showed that medical care was significantly

influenced by age and education level of respondent. The communication and behaviour

change component was affected by age and marital status while counselling and testing

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was affected by only duration of living with the virus. The study recommended that,

people living with HIV/AIDS should be enabled to improve their economical situation by

providing them with low interest loans, training and provisions of social support. Medical

services may need to be integrated within the home-based care for ease of accessing