Balmer D, Barasa K, Billingsley MC, Elias G, Kihuho F; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: B223 (abstract no. PoB 3795).
Department of Psychology, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of group counselling as a therapeutic intervention for people who are HIV+ METHODS: A sample of 20 HIV+ people who had been diagnosed for not less than 6 months and not more than 18 months self selected. Quantitative base line data was taken by standardised psychological tests. The sample was then randomised into 2 equal groups, 1 to be counselled, 1 to act as control. The counselled group met for 1 hour per week for 6 months. Sessions were video recorded and the tapes viewed at weekly meetings by a research team of 6 specialists. These meetings were minuted. Qualitative analysis was made from the video recordings through the process of triangulation and respondent validation. RESULTS: The quantitative analysis compared differences between the counselled and control group some of which were significant at P = 0.05 level using a t test. The qualitative analysis assessed changes to the counselled group only. These changes were represented by a set of statements negotiated and validated by the counselled group. The qualitative results corroborate the quantitative results. CONCLUSION: Group counselling is a therapeutic intervention for people who are HIV+ on both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The intervention should become standard treatment in sub-Saharan Africa where pharmacological regimens are beyond current financial resources. This study offers important improvements for counsellor training. Suggestions for reducing the 6 month counselling period are given.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Africa South of the Sahara
- Control Groups
- Counseling
- Evaluation Studies
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Research
- methods
- therapy
Other ID:
UI: 102199235
From Meeting Abstracts