Factors associated with delayed entry into HIV medical care among HIV positive people who are aware of their status in Bulawayo Zimbabwe
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Authors
Makasi, Tasara
Issue Date
2012-06
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Delayed presentation , Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome , Antiretroviral therapy , HIV sero-positive , Predictors of delayed presentation , Coping mechanism , Stigma , Sexual partner , Predictors for seeking treatment , HIV testing
Alternative Title
Abstract
Using non-experimental descriptive exploratory survey, this study sought to find out factors associated with delayed entry into HIV medical care among HIV positive people who are aware of their status. A quantitative design was used and a structured questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument. Respondents were patients in a hospital’s Opportunistic Infection Department whose hospital records indicated that they were HIV positive during the time of the study. The study found out that as much as 71.6% (n =43) first entered HIV medical care more than 12 months after testing HIV positive while 40% (n = 24) did so as a result of illness. Low education levels, unemployment and being single are associated with delayed entry into HIV medical care. A percentage of the population uses and trusts non-biomedical approaches to dealing with HIV/AIDS. Being diagnosed HIV positive is therefore not necessarily a strong reason enough for one to immediately enter into medical care. Intensive health education needs to be done at work places, health facilities, schools, through print and electronic media, churches and other community settings to equip the population with knowledge of the advantages of early entry into HIV care.
Description
Citation
Makasi, Tasara (2012) Factors associated with delayed entry into HIV medical care among HIV positive people who are aware of their status in Bulawayo Zimbabwe, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/8667>
Publisher
License
University of South Africa