Perceived social support among HIV patients newly enrolled in care in rural Ethiopia

Bibliographic Data

ID19439350
AuthorsAlan R Lifson (0000-0002-1962-1830, University of Minnesota, corresponding author), Sale Workneh (National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors), Abera Hailemichael (National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors), Workneh Demissie (National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors), Lucy Slater (National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors), Tibebe Shenie (National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors)
Year2015
Volume27
Issue11
Pages1382-1386
Publication date2015-11-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540121.2015.1098765
PMID26679266
OpenAlexW2202193911
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited27

Social support significantly enhances physical and mental health for persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We surveyed 142 rural Ethiopian HIV patients newly enrolled in care for perceived social support and factors associated with low support levels. Using the Social Provisions Scale (SPS), the mean summary score was 19.1 (possible scores = 0-48). On six SPS subscales, mean scores (possible scores = 0-8), were: Reliable Alliance (others can be counted on for tangible assistance) = 2.8, Attachment (emotional closeness providing sense of security) = 2.9, Reassurance of Worth (recognition of competence and value by others) = 3.2, Guidance (provision of advice or information by others) = 3.2, Social Integration (belonging to a group with similar interests and concerns) = 3.5, and Nurturance (belief that others rely on one for their well-being) = 3.6. In multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with lower social support scores were: lower education level (did not complete primary school) (p = .019), lower total score on knowledge items about HIV care/treatment (p = .038), and greater number of external stigma experiences in past three months (p < .001); greater number of chronic disease symptoms was of borderline significance (p = .098). Among rural Ethiopian patients newly entering HIV care, we found moderate and varying levels of perceived social support, with lowest scores for subscales reflecting emotional closeness and reliance on others for tangible assistance. Given that patients who have recently learned their diagnosis and entered care may be an especially vulnerable group, programs to help identify and address social support needs can provide multiple benefits in facilitating the best possible physical, emotional and functional quality of life for people living with HIV

Closeness · Family medicine · Psychiatry · Social support · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Clinical Psychology · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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