Counseling fatigue of HIV/AIDS counselor in Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: There is different perception of HIV/AIDS counselling fatique among counsellors of patients. This descriptive study assessed perceived HIV/AIDS counseling fatigue among HIV/AIDS counselors in Calabar, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 counselors were assessed using a 35-item questionnaire measuring a variety of counseling activities. Fatigue was ranked on a 5-point Likert-type scale. The counseling fatigue was categorized in five subscales: accessibility of clients for HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT), explains and facilitates, monitoring and follow through, trusting relationships, policies in counseling activities, and burnout responses. Results: The results showed that counselors’ perceptions on fatigue were mostly on accessibility of clients for HCT (Mean = 72.50, standard deviation [SD] = 6.124) with statistical significance of Chi-square calculated = 161.419, df = 5; P < 0.001, monitoring and follow through activities (mean = 71.80, SD = 11.23, Chi-square calculated = 31.223; df = 4; P < 0.001), and policies in counseling activities (mean = 66.0 SD = 9.62, (Chi-square calculated = 11.906, df = 6; P < 0.05). Explain and facilitate statistically and significantly correlated with age (r = 0.610, P = 0.000) and years of experience (r = 0.695, P = 0.000). Burnout responses were also statistically significant (Chi-square calculated = 144.000; df = 7; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Findings show HCT counseling activities generally cause fatigue for counselors, however, explain and facilitate counseling activities correlated with age (20–29 years) and years of experience (1–2 years) as these were found to be more fatigued among the participants. The years of experience correlation could be attributed to lack of formal HCT counseling training reported by 20 (20%). Further research is needed to explore counselors’ perceptions of HIV/AIDS counseling fatigue in different cultures.