HIV stigma in Kenya: A family medicine led community orientated primary care approach

Abstract

The Kenyan Ministry of Health envisages that family physicians should play an important role in the implementation of community orientated primary care (COPC) in collaboration with the community health team. The Kenyan Community Health Strategy forms a solid basis for the implementation of the COPC model. Residents and faculty of the Family Medicine department at the Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi collaborated with the Kaloleni sub-county of Kilifi County government near Mombasa in a five-step COPC process to better understand and act against the high prevalence of HIV stigma in the coastal region. Firstly, a deeper understanding of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) stigma was acquired through community visits and work in the comprehensive care clinic. Secondly, a collaborative implementation team was formed to design a targeted and feasible intervention. In a participatory approach, a two-step intervention was employed, firstly sensitising healthcare workers and community health volunteers (CHVs) on the high prevalence of HIV stigma in their community and educating them on HIV-related issues. Secondly, the information was disseminated to the community through home visits by CHVs, health talks and the set-up of an HIV support group at the facility. This short report illustrates the important contribution of family physicians to implementation of COPC and capacity building of the primary healthcare team.