Perceptions of the availability and effectiveness of HIV/AIDS awareness and intervention programmes by people with disabilities in Uganda

Abstract

The study investigated perceptions of the availability and effectiveness of HIV/AIDS awareness and intervention programmes by people with disabilities in Uganda. Participants (N=95) were made up of 15 leaders of disabled people's organisations (DPOs) and 80 people with disabilities (PWDs). A survey design which used both quantitative and qualitative research methods was adopted. A questionnaire was used for leaders of DPOs while focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with the rest of the participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data. The qualitative data were analysed by means of a content analysis. The study found that although PWDs were aware of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, they felt discriminated against on HIV/AIDS issues. The PWDs had difficulties in accessing HIV/AIDS services because of mainly communication problems. Results further revealed that the HIV/AIDS policy on disability was not very clear. The PWDs requested for full involvement in HIV/AIDS advocacy and training programmes. Recommendations were made.

L'étude a porté sur les perceptions par des personnes handicapées de l'Ouganda de l'accès aux programmes de sensibilisation et d'intervention sur le VIH/SIDA et de leur efficacité. Les participants (N=95) étaient composés de 15 dirigeants d'organisations de personnes handicapées (OPH) et de 80 personnes handicapées (PH). L'étude a utilisé des méthodes de recherche quantitative et qualitative. Les dirigeants des OPH ont répondu à un questionnaire tandis que le reste des participants ont pris part à des discussions de groupes (DG). Des statistiques descriptives ont été utilisées pour analyser les données quantitatives. Les données qualitatives ont été examinées au moyen d'une analyse de contenu. L'étude a révélé que bien que les personnes handicapées fussent sensibilisées à la pandémie du VIH/SIDA, ils s'estimaient victimes de discrimination en la matière. Les personnes handicapées avaient des difficultés à accéder aux services VIH/SIDA principalement en raison de problèmes de communication. De plus, les conclusions ont montré que la politique VIH/SIDA en matière de handicap n'était pas très lisible. Les personnes handicapées ont demandé à être pleinement impliquées dans des programmes de sensibilisation et de formation sur le VIH/SIDA. Des recommandations ont été faites.

Keywords:

• disability
• HIV/AIDS
• people with disabilities
• perceptions
• Uganda

Mots clés:

• handicap
• VIH/SIDA
• personnes handicapées
• perceptions
• Ouganda

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Regis Chireshe

Regis Chireshe is an Associate Professor. He is currently employed as a Research Champion by Walter Sisulu University, South Africa, in the Faculty of Education. His research interests include HIV/AIDS, gender issues, school guidance and counselling, special needs education/inclusive education, teacher development, community psychology, positive psychology and psycho-educational assessment.

Edward Ntare Rutondoki

Edward Ntare Rutondoki is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology, Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda. He is a former Head of the Department of Psychology at Kyambogo University.

Paul Ojwang

Paul Ojwang is a Lecturer in the Department of Community and Disability Studies, Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda. He is currently registered as a doctoral student with Kenyatta University, Kenya.