"It's important to take your medication everyday okay?" An evaluation of counselling by lay counsellors for ARV adherence support in the Western Cape, South Africa
Loading...
Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
There is growing interest in standard care
programmes for antiretroviral (ARV) adherence support. In
South Africa, individual counselling following ARV initiation
is a main strategy for supporting adherence in the
public sector. Egan’s client-centred ‘‘Skilled Helper’’
counselling model is the predominant model used in HIV
counselling in this context. This study evaluated counselling
delivered by lay ARV adherence counsellors in Cape
Town in terms of adherence to Egan’s model. Thirty-eight
transcripts of counselling sessions with non-adherent
patients were analysed based on the methods of content
analysis. These sessions were conducted by 30 counsellors.
Generally counsellors’ practice adhered neither to Egan’s
model nor a client-centred approach. Inconsistent with
evidence-based approaches to counselling for ARV
adherence support, counsellors mainly used informationgiving
and advice as strategies for addressing clients’ nonadherence.
Recommendations for improving practice are
made. The question as to how appropriate strategies from
developed countries are for this setting is also raised.
Description
Keywords
Standard care, Counselling, Egan's skilled helper model, Antiretroviral adherence support
Citation
Dewing, S., et al. (2013). "It's important to take your medication everyday okay?" An evaluation of counselling by lay counsellors for ARV adherence support in the Western Cape, South Africa. AIDS and Behaviour, 17(1): 203-12