SPATIAL DIMENSIONS OF CARE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN NEW JUABEN AND MANYA KROBO DISTRICTS

ABSTRACT The study examined spatial dimensions of care for people living with HIV/AIDS in New Juaben and Manya Krobo Districts. Both qualitative and quantitative data were used. The research instruments included closed and open ended questionnaire as well as interview schedules and personal observation. High prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS, limited care centres, and lack of financial and logistical support as well as stigmatization and discrimination were the major problems that necessitated this study. The barriers to care utilization were seen in the degree of availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability of the health facilities. Spatially, the two districts differed in terms of size, population and social as well as economic status. Though the Manya Krobo District is bigger in size and population than New Juaben District, the latter is more economically brisk. The main factors that influenced accessibility and utilization of health facilities were distance from place of residence to a health facility and the length of time spent at the facility to get treatment; geographical locations of the communities; the status of each community; the degree of social cohesion and differences in care practices. The research established that the marital status of the married people did not so much prevent them from being infected. Some social factors that underlined the prevalence of the HTV prevalence rate included unemployment, multiple marriages, festivals and funeral celebrations, and level of awareness of HIV/AIDS. Health Service distribution in New Juaben District was better than in the Manya Krobo District. These facilities included hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, health centres, reproductive health centres, traditional healers and pharmaceutical services. Over 60.0 per cent of PLWHAs lived vbeyond a distance o f 5 km from the care centres, and over 70.0 per cent of the respondents boarded vehicles to the care centres and back to their houses. In spite of the inconveniences involved in getting to the care centres over 70.0 per cent did not want care centres to sited in their neighborhood. More people in New Juaben covered longer distances to care centres than in Manya Krobo. The differences in care delivery in the two districts were seen in the drugs used and contributions made by NGOs. More people in Manya Krobo, however, knew their HIV status than those in New Juaben. Again most PLWHAs in New Juaben covered longer distances to care centres, and therefore spent more time at the facilities than those in Manya Krobo. Also due to stronger social cohesion in Manya Krobo, as a result of family ties, more people living in the communities knew of others’ HIV status than in New Juaben. This obviously has led to a higher rate of stigmatization. To help PLWHAs spend their lives in dignity it is recommended among others, that much of the fund voted for HIV/AIDS programmes should be directed towards care provision for PLWHAs. There is the need to help those infected with HIV/AIDS to set up their personal small scale businesses in order to be self reliant. In a bid to reduce stigmatization, home-based care should be extended to cover other ailments and not to single out HIV/AIDS. Heads of communities should put in measures to discourage sex and alcoholism among the youth during funerals/wake keeping.