Providing support to caregivers and self-care

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Work
• Health Services Research

Background:

• HIV/AIDS care involves diverse caregivers, including family, health workers, volunteers, and people living with HIV/AIDS (PHA) themselves.
• Accessing comprehensive HIV/AIDS care and social services can be challenging due to complex institutional systems and procedures.
• PHA often face administrative, financial, and legal barriers when seeking care and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and explain the "buddy" system as a novel support service for people living with HIV/AIDS.
• To highlight the role of buddies in assisting PHA with navigating healthcare systems and understanding their rights.
• To provide an example of a buddy project implemented in Rio de Janeiro for gay men.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of the emergence and function of the buddy system in HIV/AIDS care.
• Case study illustration using the Rio de Janeiro Buddy Project.
• Comparative analysis of support systems where the buddy system is present versus absent.

Main Results:

• The buddy system provides a unique support structure where individuals knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS assist PHA.
• Buddies offer accessible, confidential, and comprehensive support, addressing practical and informational needs.
• In regions without buddy systems, PHA predominantly rely on informal support from family and friends.

Conclusions:

• The buddy system is an effective model for enhancing access to care and social services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Implementing buddy systems can help mitigate the challenges faced by PHA in navigating complex healthcare and social support landscapes.
• Further development and dissemination of the buddy system model are recommended to improve HIV/AIDS care globally.