Document 1965
 DOCN  M94A1965
 TI    Traditional healers as AIDS educators and counsellors in Kampala,
       Uganda.
 DT    9412
 AU    King R; Ssali A; Kitto D; Kyeyune P; Kabatesi D; Kaleeba N; Homsy J;
       THEWA, Kampala.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):410 (abstract no. PD0247). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370610
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential of traditional healers (THs) in
       Kampala, Uganda as AIDS educators and counsellors for their women
       clients. METHODS: Of 112 THs contacted, 20 were selected to attend
       trainings on HIV/AIDS, STDs, and counselling every 2 weeks for 4 months.
       Focus groups were held to assess and incorporate TH's own perceptions
       and practices relating to AIDS into a training curriculum for THs.
       Seventy-three women clients of THs were recruited at 8 of the THs'. They
       were interviewed at the healers' clinic through structured
       questionnaires administered by social workers starting at month 3 of the
       training schedule. To date, 3-month follow-up questionnaires have been
       submitted to 29 of these women. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of women
       clients interviewed were single, 26% widows. Twenty-five percent of the
       women presented with 2 major signs of AIDS and/or were HIV positive. At
       initial visit, 68% of women said their TH gave information about AIDS
       and 35% said they received counselling from the TH. These figures rose
       to 73% and 54% respectively at second visit. When asked what information
       the TH gave at the second visit, the majority of women mentioned
       'positive living' (30%), and/or condom use (26%). Women said that during
       counselling, healers are welcoming and supportive of their problems
       (13%) and that they discuss facts about AIDS (11%) and early treatment
       (26%). 27% of women at first visit and 34% at follow-up said they had
       used condoms at least once. CONCLUSIONS: THs in Kampala treat and care
       for a large number of women clients, many of whom are single mothers and
       PWAs. Moreover, with minimal input, THs can be an important source of
       information for HIV/AIDS prevention and provide, through counselling,
       critical emotional support for their clients and community members
       affected by HIV. Therefore, action should be taken to inform and train
       THs in Africa about the vital educational and counselling role they can
       play in the fight against AIDS, especially in areas where HIV prevalence
       is high and social and medical resources are limited.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  Counseling
       Curriculum  Female  *Health Education  Human  HIV Infections/*PREVENTION
       & CONTROL  HIV Seroprevalence  *Medicine, African Traditional  Mothers
       Sexually Transmitted Diseases/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  Single Parent
       Social Support  Uganda  *Women's Health Services  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).