Organisational Support and its Contribution to Livelihoods among Taso Supported Hiv/Aids Affected Households in Masaka District

Abstract

The study was premised on the fact that HIV/AIDS epidemic has had an enormous impact on the World, where 22.5 million are infected and more than 25 million have died. Specifically in Uganda, it has caused 1million orphans and 1.9 infections. There have been different forms of support to HIV/AIDS affected households. The general objective of the study was to examine the contribution of organizational support to the livelihoods among TASO supported HIV/AIDS affected households in Masaka District. Organizational support is the (independent variable) and its contribution to livelihoods (dependent variable) among people suffering from chronic diseases like AIDS. The study used a case study research design that involved triangulation using qualitative and quantitative techniques of data collection and analysis. A sample size of 370 respondents was selected from TASO Masaka. Data was analyzed using Epiinfo 2002, SPSS and stata analysis package. Results after analysis revealed that majority of the respondents acknowledged that organisational support in form of emotional, instrumental and informational support have improved livelihoods of HIV/AIDS households, median of 4 and mean 3.8. Significant number agreed that informal social support mechanisms improved livelihoods of HIV/AIDS households 14(45.2%) agreed which is not statistically so different from those who were undecided 13(41.9%). Emotional support, Instrumental support and Informational support, has contributed to improved livelihoods of HIV/AIDS affected households in Masaka. Informal social support (community) doesn’t affect organisational support and livelihoods among HIV/AIDS affected households. TASO should change its approach to establishing social linkages that can contribute to social capital. Training for those in the community who interact with HIV/AIDS affected families, can allow more people to contribute to prevention and the provision of quality care.