Abstracts Psychology

The psycho-social challenges faced by HIV/AIDS lay counsellors at health facilities in the Eastern Cape

by Portia Ophelia Isaacs

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to explore the psycho-social challenges faced by HIV/AIDS lay counsellors at health facilities in the Eastern Cape. Specific reference is made to the experiences, stressors and challenges that lay counsellors encounters on a daily basis. Counselling forms an integral part of the social care of the community health environment as it provides a platform for disclosure, debriefing, clarity seeking and advice for those in need. HIV and AIDS counselling is an important psycho-social service especially for HIV testing because of psycho-social issues concerning the test and the results thereof. According to Birdsall, Hajiyiannis, Nkosi and Parker (2004) HIV/AIDS lay counsellors are not always working in a supportive environment that enables a quality counselling process. Moreover, it is critical to understand the HIV/AIDS lay counsellor as a whole person and to consider the psycho-social challenges they face in providing counselling to the client and in establishing networks of social support for the clients. The research participants adopted coping mechanisms to process their challenges at their own level and time. Formal support structures are recommended in this study to help prevent psychological damage and a high turnover in lay counsellors. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie is om psigo-sosiale uitdagings te verken wat MIV/VIGS lekeberaders beleef by gesondheidsfasiliteite in die Oos-Kaap. Spesifieke verwysing word gemaak na die ondervindinge, stressors en uitdagings wat lekeberaders tegemoet moet kom op ‘n daaglikse basis. Berading vorm ‘n integrale gedeelte van sosiale besorgdheid van die gesindheidsomgewing van ‘n gemeenskap aangesien dit ‘n platform voorsien vir bekendmaking, ontlonting, soeke na duidelikheid en advise vir diegene in nood. MIV en VIGS berading is ‘n belangrike psigo-sosiale diens veral vir MIV toetsing as gevolg van psigo-sosiale kwessies rakende die toets en die resultate daarvan. Volgens Birdsall, Hajiyiannis, Nkosi and Parker (2004) werk MIV/VIGS lekeberaders nie altyd in ‘n ondersteunende omgewing wat ‘n kwaliteit beradingsproses bevorder nie. Verder, is dit krities dat die MIV/VIGS lekeberader verstaan word as ‘n geheel person en dat die psigo-sosiale uitdagings wat hulle beleef deur berading te voorsien aan die klient in ag geneem moet word en die totstandkoming van ‘n network vir sosial ondersteuning vir die klient. Die deelnemers aan die navorsing het hanteringsmeganismes aangeneem om hul uitdagings te prosesseer op hul eie vlak en tyd. Formele ondersteuningstrukture word aanbeveel in die studie om sodoende sielkundige skade en ‘n hoë omset in lekeberaders te help voorkom.