Use of self-help groups by people living with HIV in Central America

Abstract

Self-help groups (SHGs) for people living with HIV (PLHIV) are organizations created by the community to provide individuals with security, affection, improved self-esteem, and a sense of belonging. However, SHGs have also been used by the government to help implement HIV control policies. This study aimed to identify the characteristics associated with the use of SHGs by PLHIV and the routes and displacement patterns adopted by users. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted based on data collected in six Central American countries during 2012. Using a list of SHGs, a random sampling was conducted in two stages. Firstly, the SHGs were selected. Then, the selected SHGs were visited and every third user who attended the SHG was surveyed. Logistic regression models were used to identify the characteristics associated with the use of SHGs and with attending the nearest SHGs. A spatial analysis was performed to identify the routes followed by users to reach the SHGs from their home communities. We found that the characteristics significantly associated with higher odds of SHG usage were country of residence and schooling level. The average and median distances traveled by users to attend SHGs were 20 and 5 kilometers, respectively. PLHIV do not use the SHGs closest to their locality, perhaps for fear of stigma and discrimination. We recommend that research on this topic use a mixed qualitative-quantitative methodology to better understand utilization decisions, user expectations, and the degree to which these are being met.

Factors associated with health-related quality of life among people living with HIV in South Korea: Tobit regression analysis

“…PLWH with low HRQoL are likely to participate in self-help groups as a way of seeking help, meanwhile PLWH with high HRQoL are more likely to believe that they do not need to participate in self-help groups. Self-help group participants among PLWH are more likely to be unemployed, have low incomes, and have low education levels [ 36 , 37 ]. In this study, the employment rate for those who did not participate in the self-help groups was 70.9%, higher than the 62.0% rate for those who did not participate.…”

“…Furthermore, in this study, self-efficacy in obtaining support/help of those who participated in the self-help group (5.37 out of 10) was stronger than those who did not participate (3.87 out of 10), and given that self-efficacy in obtaining support/help was significant affecting factor of HRQoL, self-help groups may be a strategy to increase HRQoL in low socioeconomic status individuals. Given that PLWH are often reluctant to disclose their infection and could intentionally seek resources in distant communities or prefer online communities [ 36 ], utilizing anonymous online communities to form self-help groups could be a viable strategy.…”