ABSTRACT

Abstract

Behavioural change results from how people understand their identity in a personal and social context, people vary on how they manage their disease, depending on the type of social support they receive. As individuals learn and grow from their experiences with illness, they often become advocates for their own health and view their status as an asset to helping others. This study provides baseline information about the social support services utilized by people living with HIV/AIDS attending antiretroviral clinic of General Hospital Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was carried out at the antiretroviral clinic of General Hospital Kafanchan, Kaduna in 2014. A sample size of 422 people living with HIV/AIDS was obtained by systematic sampling technique. Questionnaire was used to collect data with the help of four trained research assistants from the antiretroviral clinic to ensure objectivity and confidentiality. Data was analysed descriptively using frequency and percentages while Chi-square was used to test for association and SPSS version 20 at 95% confidence interval was used. Respondents used more than one options to describe their social support as average. Majority 96.6% (398) derived support from the family members followed by health workers with 94.9% (391). However, only 55.3% (223) derived their support from HIV support group. Social support utilization is crucial for people living with HIV/AIDS. There is need for continuous counselling of people living with HIV/AIDS with regards to the utilization of variety of social support network in order to improve the living standard of the people.