title: Fostering hope in people living with AIDS in Africa: the role of primary health-care workers.
abstract: Today the medical literature is dominated by discussions on issues related to HIV/AIDS. This is not surprising considering the fact that in the history of humankind, the HIV/AIDS scenario has posed one of the greatest challenges. The reality of the physical, socioeconomic and psychological problems associated with the AIDS epidemic has become obvious to the general populace in Africa. Currently, both the AIDS victims and several others in the society continue to entertain the fear of dying from AIDS. The situation has become a source of concern to almost everyone, including primary health-care (PHC) workers. While several options are being examined to address the AIDS problem in Africa, one area that is often neglected is how to foster hope in people living with AIDS (PLWA) and their caregivers. In an attempt to examine this issue, this paper discusses the concept of hope, the cultural construct of HIV/AIDS in African countries and the role of PHC workers in fostering hope in PLWA. The paper concludes that by assisting the PLWA to develop a good sense of hope, PHC workers will be able to meet an important challenge: how to improve the quality of life for PLWA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Education, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. akinsola@mopipi.ub.bw
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Akinsola
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000349:Africa; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D005239:Fear; D006040:Goals; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D009013:Morale; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support