Population Council Research that makes a difference

XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010)
18–23 July 2010

Abstract

"Support and service needs of people living with HIV and AIDS: A study in context of Bangladesh"
Amar Krishna Baidya, Ismat Bhuiya, Asiful Haidar Chowdhury, Mahmudur Rahman Chowdhury, and Kamrul Hassan

Background
Understanding the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA) is crucial in Bangladesh to ensure they have a safe and positive life. The study was conducted to assess existing support and services for PLHA and to explore unmet needs of PLHA, which will help to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for services to PLHA.

Methods
Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and the respondents were selected purposively. Respondents included service providers, program managers, policymakers, researchers, donors, and the beneficiaries of services. Four focus group discussions with nearly 100 participants and 19 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders were conducted. Through content analysis data were analyzed.

Results
There is a huge gap in terms of adequacy, uniformity, quality, and monitoring of services providing to PLHA by the organizations. An SOP is a felt need of the organizations working with PLHA as they have no guidelines when it comes to operating activities, and the ones who do have guidelines that do not fulfill the requirements for delivering comprehensive, high-quality services to PLHA. Through assessment, 37 different types of support and service needs were identified. A strategic framework was prepared for developing a comprehensive SOP by categorizing the identified needs into four domains: prevention, treatment, and nursing care; psychological support; human rights and legal supports; and socioeconomic support. The home-based care, care of dead persons, surgery, support for orphans, widow,s and widower, job opportunities, and nutritional support are not being addressed by the existing program for PLHA.

Conclusions
Based on the findings of the assessment a comprehensive SOP for services to PLHA was developed which was endorsed by the Government of Bangladesh for providing comprehensive, high-quality services to PLHA.

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