A support group is a structure or meeting wherein people with common challenges concerns and needs come together to support one another in various aspects of daily living and functioning – emotional, spiritual, physical and psychological and to share information, knowledge, ideas and experiences. Members of the group are bound by group norms, goals and objectives as agreed upon by the group.
Human beings function within groups, wherein support is crucial for individual. The idea of using groups for support or therapeutically was initiated at the beginning of the twentieth century. Tuberculosis patients who met one another each week in the same waiting room, due to a regular appointment schedule, were noted to show an improved recovery rate and lower relapse rate than those patients whose appointments involved waiting in an empty room for appointments. A formal group approach was devised as a result. It emphasized the usefulness of education and advice regarding the illness and the creation of mutual support among members of the group the main objective of the group being mutual support.
One of the key elements in HIV AIDS care support group are recommended by WHO and UNAIDS, is the provision of psychosocial support. Support groups have been identified as a basic form of psychosocial support for those living with HIV AIDS.
Support groups have traditionally been recognized for their value in providing emotional relief and support to individuals. For those living and or affected with HIV AIDS, the support group has several benefits. Benefits include having social contact with others who are experience a similar reality, obtaining valid information and developing different ways of dealing with the challenges of HIV and Aids.
ADHOPE model of establishing Support Group within the community is based on the following approach:
- 1-To identify the underprivileged African nationals community living in South Africa. This identification could be possible by developing a strategy to reach each community, this by first develop a partnership with each community leader, then move in to the particular community and therefore explain to the community the importance of joining or creating a support group meeting in their community to support those who are infected and affected with HIV AIDS and other chronic diseases.
- 2-Identify the needs of those who are infected and affected with HIV AIDS and other chronic diseases.
- 3-Establish a supporting system to address those needs with the help of the community as well.
The role of the beneficiary community is to partnership with the project, to encourage and support those who are in needs (people infected and affected with HIV AIDS and other chronic diseases).
The purpose of the support group is:
- People sharing common experience and difficulties
- People to connect with each other and share similar problems and sharing feelings
- Learning different ways of coping
- Gaining insight into self and different issues discussed in the group
- Obtaining reliable information
- Networking
- Accessing referral systems
Home Based Care | High Transmission Area | HIV Counselling and Testing |
