Health promotion for families with adolescents orphaned by HIV/AIDS in rural Hammanskraal

Abstract

Health promotion is regarded as the cornerstone of good health. The aim of this research was to develop and validate health promotion guidelines for families with adolescents orphaned by HIV/Aids in rural Hammanskraal. The objectives were to explore and describe the health promotion needs of families with adolescents orphaned by HIV/Aids in rural Hammanskraal, and to develop and validate health promotion guidelines for such families. The research was conducted within a qualitative paradigm that was both exploratory and descriptive. In Phase 1 of the research, a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was followed to investigate the health promotion needs phenomenon identified above. The study population for Phase 1 was made up of families with adolescents orphaned by HIV/Aids. Participants in this research, which were purposely selected, included substitute parents of all ages and adolescents between the ages 10 and 17. Data were collected by means of group interviews and field notes, and qualitative data analysis methods were used. Themes, categories and subcategories were identified and verified by means of a literature control. Thirteen themes summarising the needs of participant families as they relate to health promotion were identified from data obtained during several rounds of data collection. These themes served as the foundation for the development of health promotion guidelines for families with adolescents orphaned by HIV/Aids in rural Hammanskraal. The development and validation of health promotion guidelines for families with adolescents orphaned by HIV/Aids in rural Hammanskraal comprised Phase 2 of the research. The research findings were discussed in the context and framework of relevant literature, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory and a revised Multilevel Approaches toward Community Health (MATCH) model. Identified themes within the frameworks of the theory and model were utilised together with the empirical part of the study as the foundation for the development of the guidelines. Preliminary guidelines were refined by a panel of twelve stakeholders that were purposely selected because of their involvement in HIV/Aids programmes. The set of nine guidelines was validated by experts in the fields of guideline validation and HIV/Aids care. The guidelines were submitted to the National Director: Unit of Health Promotion at the South African Department of Health for confirmation that the guidelines were in line with national health promotion policies. However, the study context was rural Hammanskraal and it can therefore not be taken for granted that the results are applicable to other contexts. Recommendations are testing the guidelines in a clinical setting, preparing them for piloting before implementation and, after implementation, reviewing and updating the guidelines to ensure their credibility and sustainability.