Background and Context:
Community Home based care (CHBC) a national program established in 1995 to take care of HIV related illnesses and other chronic illnesses. At its inception most of the patients were very ill and bedridden as a result of HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country. Following establishment of The National ARV programme in 2002, fewer patients were enrolled into the programme.
Aim:
To determine the number of disease profile of the patients on CHBC program, to outline the disease profile and explore palliative services the patients are accessing.
Strategy/Tactics:
Data collection was through the use of cross sectional survey of all patients in CHBC program. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the patients through the assistance of CHBC coordinators, social workers and monitoring and evaluation officers. Data was collected on the clinical profiles, needs, challenges that the clients faced. Access based software and SPSS11 to answer the objectives.
Programme/Policy Process:
Results: Females make the majority of patients registered. Non communicable disease take the lead in CHBC enrolment: HIV related illness makes about 40%. 30% of the patients capable of limited self-care and are confined to bed or chair 50% of the time. Cancer following HIV is on the increase with women being mostly affected. Unmet needs in order of priority were pain, inadequate supply like food, lack of diapers, weight loss and depression.
Outcomes/What was learned:
Conclusion: The results show a drastic decline in HIV and increase in NCDs and HIV related cancers. The analysis provides a baseline of the pattern of the disease in the program which can be used to plan for the program. The programme has since developed palliative strategy and is in the process of developing Pain management Guidelines which is a great achievement for the country health care.