Shomari, A.2024-05-102024-05-102015Shomari, A., 2015. To assess the factors affecting home base care programme to address PLHIV patients lost to follow up: the case of Lugalo military hospital. HKMUhttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1421A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for masters in social work of Hubert Kairuki Memorial UniversityThis study aimed at exposing HBC services as solution towards addressing the problem of lost to follow-up for people living with HIV attending clinics in different hospitals. The study was guided by one general objective and three specific objectives, both designed to meet the researcher's goal. The general objective of the study is to assess the factors affecting the implementation of HBC services to HIV/AIDS patients lost to follow-up in care and treatment clinics at Lugalo Military Hospital. Specifically, the study aims at identifying the factors hindering the implementation of HBC services to HIV/AIDS patient's lost to follow up in care and treatment; examining the knowledge and awareness of the community on HBC Programme to the HIV/AIDS patients' LTFU in care and treatment as well as exploring the strategies for effective implementation of HBC services to address LTF problem and ensuring retention of clients to Care and Treatment Centres. The study deployed the mix-up of qualitative and quantitative approaches to incorporate all respondents' views and suggestions. Questionnaires and interviews were used in collecting data from respondents including general HIV patients, peer educators, health personnel and administrators from Lugalo Hospital, TPDF headquarters and Pharm Access Foundation. The study results showed that HBC services were recommended as an effective measure towards addressing LTFU by 74 percent of all respondents. On the other hand, 17 percent of respondents suggested on the need of improving health services to PLHIV by Increasing motivations towards patients and service providers, improving privacy and confidentiality in CTC and ensuring the integrations of all social and economic issues of PLHIV in the treatment process. The challenges affecting effective implementation of LTFU was contributed by several factors including distance from homes to clinics by (87%), Social norms of attending family rituals (86%), Social obligations (65%), and Patient's time consuming at the ART clinics (58%). The study found out that 75 percent of the mentioned factors had their root causes in social and economic issues, a situation which emphasized the need for HBC programme to address LTFU among PLHIV. In conclusion, the expression still on the effectiveness of HBC and emphasizes to all stake holders to take up affirmative efforts to work together towards promoting and improve HBC program and address challenges associated with it. Recommendations has been done to the government, Civil Society Organizations, health workers, policy makers, researchers, as well as the general community so as to insure patients retention and improve care and treatment services to PLHIV.enPLHIVPatientsLugalo military hospitalThesis