Community Home-Based Care in a Rural Village: Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

In Botswana, there has been an increase in community home-based care (CHBC) following a shift from hospital care to CHBC because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Yet the health care system has limited resources. To fulfill one of the terms of reference of the World Health Organization Collaboration Centre at the Department of Nursing, University of Botswana, an outreach program was developed in collaboration with 18 lay volunteers in a nearby village, Mmopane. This article discusses the process of establishing the CHBC committee and the challenges faced by faculty, students, and lay caregivers in working with a diverse CHBC group to render culturally sensitive care. Strategies for dealing with these challenges are discussed.