Abstract #306  -  symposium: adapting champ positive: international perspectives. champ+ south africa
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Prof Arvin Bhana - Human Sciences Research Council
Additional Authors:  Prof Inge Petersern, Prof Arvhin Bhana, Dr Nonhlahla Mayeza,
Aim: With the recent roll out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) medicines in South Africa, there is a growing number of HIV infected children entering adolescence and adulthood with the chronic and stigmatizing disease. International research suggests that adolescence is a particularly vulnerable period for HIV-infected people in relation to mental health problems and engagement in high risk behaviours, including non-compliance with medical treatment. This poses a significant public health threat, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, with the high levels of HIV infection among youth. The Collaborative HIV/AIDS Mental Health Project (CHAMP) was originally developed in the US to bolster key family and youth variables, found to protect youth against risk behaviour and has since been adapted for the South African context as well as for HIV+ youth in the US. This presentation reviews the process of adapting CHAMP+ to ensure cultural congruence for HIV+ youth and their caregivers in South Africa.
Method / Issue: Data for this presentation comes from two qualitative studies. The first was in-depth interviews held with service providers (12), caregivers (15) and youth (25) servicing and attending an HIV/AIDS treatment program at an urban-based hospital in Durban, South Africa to understand risk and protective influences. The second was process evaluation data from focus group interviews on the usefulness and cultural authenticity of the adapted programme. Data was analysed thematically using NVivo software.
Results / Comments: The first study revealed the following emergent themes related to risk factors for youth: difficulties in coping with the loss of biological parents; youth concerns about their future; disclosure difficulties; treatment adherence problems; youth difficulties in negotiating heterosexual relationships and peer pressure; stigma and discrimination difficulties; and youth identity problems. Emergent themes related to protective influences include having supportive caregivers, families and friends as well as being able to communicate with caregivers.
Discussion: How these themes as well as the findings from the focus groups informed the development of the sessions of the adapted programme called the ‘Vuka Family Project’ are discussed. Further, the merits of the cartoon-based method for the delivery of sensitive material are also discussed.
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