title: Involving religious leaders in HIV care and treatment at a university-affiliated hospital in Ethiopia: Application of formative inquiry.
abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, religious views strongly influence how people relate to illness, health, and healing. Belief in the curative power of religion, including for HIV, persists in many communities. As such, many funding agencies and organisations working in the field of HIV have incorporated religious institutions into their programmes in various capacities. Yet, debate continues regarding the benefits and drawbacks of including sectarian organisations in the fight against HIV. In the current study, we sought to explore whether patients with HIV would be amenable to receiving HIV-related psychosocial support from religious leaders. We interviewed 48 Ethiopian Orthodox Church followers who presented for routine HIV care at Gondar University Hospital ART (antiretroviral treatment) clinic. Although almost half (46%) of participants self-identified as 'very religious', the majority of them (73%) had not disclosed their HIV status to a religious leader. Study participants highlighted multiple factors that could potentially affect their willingness to involve religious leaders in their HIV care. We discuss these findings in relation to religion and HIV in the African context. Our findings support the use of formative qualitative work prior to developing and implementing programmes that integrate faith and medical communities.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Global Health , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Meheret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endeshaw
authors.affiliation: b Internal Medicine , University of Gondar , Gondar , Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Shitaye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alemu
authors.affiliation: c Care Opportunities through Partnership in Ethiopia (SCOPE) , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: b Internal Medicine , University of Gondar , Gondar , Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abere
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dessie
authors.affiliation: a Department of Global Health , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.affiliation: d Harborview Medical Center , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rawlins
authors.affiliation: a Department of Global Health , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Judd L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Walson
authors.affiliation: a Department of Global Health , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002835:Christianity; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012424:Rural Population; D013240:Stereotyping; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ethiopia; Ethiopian Orthodox Church; HIV; disclosure; religious leaders