Developing Community-Based Palliative Care Services for People Living with HIV in Africa

Abstract

Africa continues to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Poor access to medical care, limited access to antiretroviral drugs, and lack of supportive care for persons who are symptomatic lead to disease progression. Communitybased palliative care services are effective in providing supportive services throughout the course of the illness, but palliative care services are limited in Africa. This article presents a theoretical approach to developing community-based palliative care services to bridge this gap.