Dilemmas in connection with the antiretroviral treatment program in South Africaas experienced by the involved personnel

Abstract

HIV/ AIDS is the most important public health topic in South Africa at the beginning of the 21st century. With the implementation of a nationwide antiretroviral treatment program, health care workers are entering this specialised field of medical care. Using the available literature the importance of the cultural influences is established and the potential burdens and dilemmas for the personnel are identified and related to the fields of ‘the individual health carers situation’, ‘the health carer/patient interaction’ and ‘the third persons’ interests’. A qualitative study containing nine semi-structured in-depth-interviews with health care professionals from the Rustenburg provincial hospital’s HIV/AIDS clinic, empirical data are collected to verify the relevance of the factors found in the literature.