Abstract

Background: The use of volunteers in task shifting has helped in improving access to comprehensive HIV care in a challenging era of staff attrition, work overload and complex referral system. Aims &
Objective: The aims and objective of this study is to assess attitude and motivation factors for volunteering work in HIV care programme work in Southwestern Nigeria. Material and Methods: This was a Descriptive cross sectional health facility based study carried out among eligible volunteers in Southwestern states in Nigeria. Ninety six (96) health facility based volunteers in Southwestern Nigeria, using multistage sampling technique. Research instruments employed were semi structured; self-administered pre tested questionnaires administered on eligible volunteers. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 13.0. Data was presented in form of frequency tables, while association between categorical variable was determined at a significance level of P<0.05.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 33.8 (±1.6) years, while 72 (75.0%) were members of HIV support group. Fifty six (58.3%) had formal training on HIV care before commencement of volunteering work. Sixty two (86.1% of support group members and 64.5% of total respondents) would like to encourage other support group members to take up volunteering work. Common motivators for volunteer job include the desire to know more about HIV 88 (91.7%), to assist the community 81 (84.4%), to assist fellow HIV positive clients 64 (66.7%) and to relieve health care workers of work overload 84 (87.5%). Thirteen (13.5%) has ever dropped out of volunteer work before. Respondents felt they could assist to reduce stigma and discrimination, give counselling and information to HIV clients and completion of referrals. Perceived challenges to volunteering work include poor training in 73 (76.0%), poor supervision by skilled health workers 68 (70.8%), poor referral feedback 65 (67.7%) and complex referral forms and tools being used 64 (66.7%). There is a significant association between receiving formal training on HIV care and 2 willingness to encourage other support group members towards volunteering for HIV care work (N = 42, χ = 3.142, p=0.003). Conclusion: Majority of volunteers were HIV peers. Empathy, human feelings and interest motivated most volunteers under study. Periodic trainings and supervision could serve as viable means of encouraging them towards a productive volunteering work.