What can volunteer co-providers contribute to health systems? The role of people living with HIV in the Thai paediatric HIV programme

Tulloch, Olivia, Taegtmeyer, Miriam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5377-2536, Ananworanich, Jintanat, Chasombat, Sanchai, Kosalaraksa, Pope and Theobald, Sally ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9053-211X (2014) 'What can volunteer co-providers contribute to health systems? The role of people living with HIV in the Thai paediatric HIV programme'. Social Science and Medicine, Vol 145, pp. 184-192.

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Abstract

In Thailand people living with HIV (PLHIV) have played a major role in shaping policy and practice. They have acted as volunteer co-providers, although their potential in terms of paediatric service provision has seldom been explored from a health systems perspective. We describe the Thai paediatric HIV care system and use both demand- and supply-side perspectives to explore the impact, opportunities and challenges of PLHIV acting as volunteer co-providers.

We employed qualitative methods to assess experiences and perceptions and triangulate stakeholder perspectives. Data were collected in Khon Kaen province, in the poorest Northeastern region of Thailand: three focus group discussions and two workshops (total participants n = 31) with co-providers and hospital staff; interviews with ART service-users (n = 35). Nationally, key informant interviews were conducted with policy actors (n = 20).

Volunteer co-providers were found to be ideally placed to broker the link between clinic and communities for HIV infected children and played an important part in the vital psychosocial support component of HIV care. As co-providers they were recognized as having multiple roles linking and delivering services in clinics and communities. Clear emerging needs include strengthened coordination and training as well as strategies to support funding.

Using motivated volunteers with a shared HIV status as co-providers for specific clinical services can contribute to strengthening health systems in Asia; they are critical players in delivering care (supply side) and being responsive to service-users needs (demand side). Co-providers blur the boundaries between these two spheres. Sustaining and optimising co-providers' contribution to health systems strengthening requires a health systems approach. Our findings help to guide policy makers and service providers on how to balance clinical priorities with psycho-social responsiveness and on how best to integrate the views and experience of volunteers into a holistic model of care.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	W General Medicine. Health Professions > Health Services. Patients and Patient Advocacy > W 85 Patients. Attitude and compliance WA Public Health > Health Administration and Organization > WA 590 Health education, Health communication WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV Infections > WC 503 Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV infections WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV Infections > WC 503.7 Psychosocial aspects WS Pediatrics > WS 20 Research (General)
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.09.017
Depositing User:	Faye Moody
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2014 10:22
Last Modified:	17 Oct 2019 10:51
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/4568

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