Assessing the potential to involve healers in expanding coverage of cARV programs in rural western Uganda
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Abstract
In Uganda there is a gap between the coverage of cARV programs and the number of people who require treatment. Community-based initiatives are necessary to scale-up cARV programs. Healers have been shown to be able to play a role in other aspects of HIV care including prevention. This study assessed the potential to include healers in Kabarole district in community-based cARV programs to increase program coverage in this rural area. We completed 219 questionnaires and quantified knowledge of HIV/AIDS, attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients, previous experience in collaborating with conventional medical care, and willingness to collaborate to provide cARVs to their villagemates. Multivariate modeling identified characteristics of types of healers that may make them more suitable for collaboration. Qualitative analysis indicated that both healers and health care workers would be willing to work together to try and improve care for HIV/AIDS patients.