An intervention model to support nurses caring for poeple living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Vhembe district of Limpopo Province

Abstract

The challenge that is brought about by the scourge of HIV and AIDS has increased the burden of caring to the health care delivery system that is already weak. Nurses are mostly affected as they are at the forefront of health care delivery. Taking cognizance the impact that HIV has made on the health care delivery in this country, it is important to investigate on the experiences of nurses regarding the care and support they provide to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). Knowledge of these experiences provided guidelines for the development of an intervention model that will assist caregivers to provide health care to PLWHA. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive, phenomenological and contextual study was conducted. The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase was exploration and description of nurses' experiences of care and support by means of individual face-to- face interviews. The researcher used one research question as a point of departure and more questions emanated from the discussions. Participants narrated their experiences and were reflected in words as well as quotations emphasize the described narratives. Findings revealed that nurses experienced caring as challenging physically and emotionally. Lack of knowledge on managing HIV/AIDS was also indicated as one of the challenges in rendering quality care to PLWHA and poor support system for nurses. Literature control was done to support the findings. The second phase involved conceptualization of the concept "support", according to evolutionary method of Rodger and Knafl (1993) and the result of concept analysis formed the basis for model development. Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach (1968:423) theoretical framework was used to develop the model and model evaluation was done according to Chinn and Kramer (1999:107) The study recommended managing the human and material resources by assessing reasons for staff attrition and absenteeism to determine the problem, and device

strategies for staff retention. Stigmatization and discrimination need to be addressed and be included in work-based support programmes and policies. Nurses should receive regular debriefing to ease the emotional pain such as anger, grief, death and depression so as to cope with such challenges in the workplace. Making HIV/AIDS information available to all personnel such as promoting awareness, disclosure and acceptance of HIV/AIDS through attendance of workshops, seminars and educational sessions by all nursing personnel.