Satisfaction with Peer Educators among Hiv Infected Persons

Background An insuffi cient number of health personnel and excessive workload have been common barriers for the provision of adequate HIV care in Thailand. HIV patients are often discouraged when they experience medication side effects as they commence highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Peer educators present a potential solution to this problem. This report focuses on patient satisfaction with the activities of peer educators. Method Two hundred and twenty three people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) were enrolled into this study following initiation of HAART. A structured interview was used. Complete data of 219 participants at month 4, and 211 at month 12 after initiation of HAART were collected. Focus group discussions were held in 4 selected hospitals. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. Paired t-tests were carried out to compare satisfaction difference between month 4 and month 12. Content analyses of qualitative data were done. Result The mean age of participants was 35 (range: 18-73 years) and 53% of them were male. Their need for home visits by peer educators was higher at month 4 than at month 12. Participants expressed a high satisfaction rate with peer educators (time provided; willingness to listen; ability to explain; convenience in making contact when necessary; client comfort in talking to them; attentive to the condition; and provision of help, advice and encouragement in taking anteretroviral (ARV) medications at month 4 as well as month 12. Conclusion Peer educator intervention could be successfully deployed to support PLHA and help them adhere to antiretroviral medication. Chiang Mai Medical Journal 2009;48(3):95-104.