Information for Health and social care providers

Best practices

Although the role of rehabilitation in the care of individuals with HIV continues to grow, no best practice guidelines currently exist.
Developing best practices in HIV and rehabilitation

CWGHR is currently working to:

• develop best practice guidelines for rehabilitation in the context of HIV/AIDS
• identify integrated models of rehabilitation at the point of care
• identify and promote key research priorities in the area of rehabilitation policy and clinical practice

The project will develop recommendations based on a literature review and a series of focus groups and interviews with key informants, including: people with HIV, researchers, educators, clinicians and policy makers. The project is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

For more information, please contact the Project Consultants, Annette Wilkins and Kelly O’Brien.

Best practices in an international context

CWGHR is partnering with the International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation (ICDR) at the University of Toronto and the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board in a two-year project to develop best practices in education and service delivery in north-west Cameroon.

The project will develop models that integrate prevention, treatment and support for two communities: people with disabilities and people with HIV (who often live with disabilities related to their disease.) Particular attention will be given to how gender and stigma impact the lives of people living with, or at risk of, HIV.

The project provides an opportunity to develop models of community-based rehabilitation that integrate rehabilitation, disability and HIV issues. The models will be suited to a context where resources are limited and will prove useful in the Canadian context to improve access to rehabilitation for people living with HIV. The project is funded through the Canadian Society for International Health.

HIV/AIDS and disabilities in Cameroon

Cameroon, located in central Africa, is often referred to as “Africa in miniature” because of its cultural and geographic diversity. The rate of HIV/AIDS is highest in the north-west part of the country: approximately nine per cent of the population is infected, with higher rates of 12 per cent among women and over 25 per cent for female sex workers.

Worldwide, the number of people with disabilities (from all causes) is estimated to be 10 per cent of the population. In developing countries, 20 per cent of the population is affected. (Source: 2004 Yale University – World Bank Study)

For more information about this project, please contact the project team.