Issues: The program offers a peer model intervention to improve adherence to HAART. Peer worker (PW) will talk about the positive impact of her job on clients and the challenges she faces in the process of building a relationship and motivating clients to adhere to HAART.
Description: HIV infected clients in our community often come from impoverished backgrounds, with poor social supports, substance use and other significant health and social concerns. Being from the same community, PWs share similar backgrounds and experiences with clients. PWs provide social support and address non-adherence in a non-judgmental and supportive manner. They use their own experience with HIV and HAART to provide informal counseling, help clients to navigate the health system, and overcome barriers to adherence. Creating a relationship with clients, disclosing their HIV status, and building mutual trust are some of the initial challenges faced by the PWs. However, most clients respond in a positive way to the intervention. Clients share their difficulties with adherence and seem to become motivated to change their behavior. A recurring challenge for PWs is to address the clients' strong emotions (fear, anger or depression) while maintaining objectivity. PWs also have to deal with their own health issues. An additional challenge for PWs is the client's termination from the program at the end of the yearlong intervention and dealing with the clients' attachment to the PWs.
Conclusion: PWs bring a unique perspective to their work, allowing trusting relationship with clients which promotes adherence to HAART.
Learning Objectives: To describe an innovative approach using peer workers to facilitate adherence to HIV & TB treatment in Harlem
Keywords: Community Health Promoters, Adherence
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Harlem Hospital
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment