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HEM731

Communication And Counselling In Hiv/Aids

This course introduces students to communication and counseling principles within the context of HIV/AIDS. It explores the nature of communication, counseling processes, and various approaches to counseling. The course covers HIV/AIDS-related stigma, discrimination, prevention strategies, and specific counseling techniques for individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS. It also addresses the importance of pre- and post-test counseling, risk assessment, and ethical considerations in HIV/AIDS counseling.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
208 hours
Maths
None
Content
Theoretical, case study, problem solving
Practical work
Yes
Before you start
  • Basic knowledge of psychology
  • Understanding of human behavior
  • Familiarity with healthcare concepts
How it is assessed
  • Assignments
  • Tutor Marked Assignments
  • Final Examination

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

HEM731 · UNIT 1 COMMUNICATION

Berelson and Steiner (1964) see it as the transmission of information, ideas, emotions skills etc, by the use of symbols, words, pictures, figures, graphs etc.

What you should be able to do

  1. Explain the principles of effective communication in counseling.
  2. Apply various counseling approaches to address HIV/AIDS-related issues.
  3. Describe the modes of HIV transmission and prevention strategies.
  4. Conduct pre- and post-test counseling sessions effectively.
  5. Address stigma and discrimination faced by individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
  6. Apply specific counseling techniques for prevention, bereavement, crisis, and disclosure in HIV/AIDS.

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • HIV/AIDS Counselor
  • Community Health Worker
  • Social Worker
  • Public Health Educator
  • Healthcare Provider
Where it is applied
  • Healthcare
  • Social Services
  • Non-Governmental Organizations
  • Public Health
  • Community Development

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module 3: Introduction to HIV/AIDS

    Unit 2: HIV Transmission facts

    Understanding the complexities of HIV transmission requires careful attention to detail and dispelling common misconceptions.

  • Module 5: Specific Counselling for HIV/AIDS

    Unit 2: Bereavement Counselling

    Applying bereavement counseling techniques requires sensitivity and awareness of diverse cultural and emotional responses to loss.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 38 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1: Counselling and Communication: An Introduction
    • Unit 1: Communication · 2 hours

      Read Unit 1: Defining communication, understanding basic components (source, message, channel, receiver, noise, feedback, code).. Complete self-assessment exercise on defining communication.. Identify and describe the basic components of communication..

    • Unit 2: Characteristics of Communication · 2 hours

      Read Unit 2: Identifying and explaining characteristics of communication (symbolic, social, co-orientation, shared meaning, contextual).. Illustrate functions of communication (creating cooperation, acquiring information, forming self-concept, entertainment).. Explain purposes of communication..

  2. Week 2Module 1: Counselling and Communication: An Introduction
    • Unit 3: Introduction to Counseling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 3: Defining counseling, identifying objectives, misconceptions, and related terms (advising, guidance, psychotherapy).. Complete self-assessment exercise on defining counseling.. Describe counseling and related terms..

    • Unit 4: Approaches to Counseling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 4: Explaining approaches to counseling (directive, humanistic, behavioral, eclectic).. Describe principles of counseling (confidentiality, client self-determination, acceptance, non-judgmental attitude, empathy).. Identify and explain the principles of counseling..

  3. Week 3Module 2: The Counselling Process
    • Unit 1: Counseling Process · 2 hours

      Read Unit 1: Describing counseling process, identifying steps, and conditions for effective counseling.. Complete self-assessment exercise on factors influencing counseling readiness.. Explain the steps in the counseling process..

    • Unit 2: Types of Counselling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 2: Identifying types of counseling (individual, group), differences, and similarities.. Complete self-assessment exercise on individual counseling definition and group counseling assumptions.. Identify the similarities and differences between individual and group counseling..

  4. Week 4Module 2: The Counselling Process
    • Unit 3: Special Areas in Counseling and Evaluation of Counseling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 3: Identifying and describing special areas in counseling (family, marriage, vocational, health).. Identify goals of evaluation and approaches to evaluation.. Complete self-assessment exercise on health counseling..

  5. Week 5Module 3: Introduction to HIV/AIDS
    • Unit 1: HIV/AIDS: An Introduction · 2 hours

      Read Unit 1: Defining HIV/AIDS, identifying symptoms, describing the immune system, and illustrating how HIV affects it.. Complete self-assessment exercise on HIV/AIDS terminology.. Describe the immune system and how HIV affects it..

  6. Week 6Module 3: Introduction to HIV/AIDS
    • Unit 2: HIV Transmission facts · 2 hours

      Read Unit 2: Defining HIV modes of transmission, identifying how HIV is not transmitted, illustrating hierarchy of sexual needs.. Identify opportunistic infections and HIV prevention methods.. Complete self-assessment exercise on factors facilitating HIV transmission..

  7. Week 7Module 3: Introduction to HIV/AIDS
    • Unit 3: Link between STIs and HIV Transmission · 2 hours

      Read Unit 3: Identifying linkage between STIs and HIV, causes, symptoms, and treatment of STIs.. Complete self-assessment exercise on the linkage between STIs and HIV.. Identify the symptoms of STIs..

  8. Week 8Module 3: Introduction to HIV/AIDS
    • Unit 4: HIV Testing · 2 hours

      Read Unit 4: Describing HIV testing, explaining testing infants, and identifying possible HIV test results.. Complete self-assessment exercise on HIV testing terminology.. Describe the possible HIV test results..

  9. Week 9Module 4: HIV/AIDS Pre/Post Test Counselling
    • Unit 1: HIV/AIDS Counselling: Definitions · 2 hours

      Read Unit 1: Describing HIV counseling, identifying aims, types, and qualities of a good counselor.. Complete self-assessment exercise on qualities of a good counselor.. Identify the aims of HIV/AIDS counseling..

  10. Week 10Module 4: HIV/AIDS Pre/Post Test Counselling
    • Unit 2: Pre-Test Counselling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 2: Defining pre-test counseling, illustrating important points, explaining risk assessment, and developing a risk assessment plan.. Explain HIV test and meaning of test result and discuss the issue of consent to HIV testing.. Complete self-assessment exercise on pre-test counseling..

  11. Week 11Module 4: HIV/AIDS Pre/Post Test Counselling
    • Unit 3: Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Counselling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 3: Identifying the need for preventing mother-to-child transmission counseling.. Illustrate advantages and disadvantages of testing during pregnancy.. Complete self-assessment exercise on vertical transmission..

    • Unit 4: Post-Test Counseling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 4: Explaining post-test counseling, its importance, and identifying important points.. Complete self-assessment exercise on the main goal of post-test counseling.. Identify the important points for post-test counseling..

  12. Week 12Module 5: Specific Counselling for HIV/AIDS
    • Unit 1: Prevention Counselling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 1: Defining prevention counseling, identifying forms, goals, explaining universal precautions, and home-based care.. Complete self-assessment exercise on the goals of prevention counseling.. Explain universal precautions and home-based care for HIV/AIDS..

    • Unit 2: Bereavement Counselling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 2: Defining bereavement counseling, identifying factors influencing grieving, normal grief reactions, and potential danger signs.. Explain goals of grief counseling and stages of bereavement.. Complete self-assessment exercise on normal grief reactions..

  13. Week 13Module 5: Specific Counselling for HIV/AIDS
    • Unit 3: Crisis Counselling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 3: Defining crisis, identifying elements, defining crisis counseling, and explaining the role of the counselor.. Complete self-assessment exercise on the elements of crisis.. Explain the role of the counselor in crisis counseling..

    • Unit 4: Disclosure Counselling · 2 hours

      Read Unit 4: Explaining disclosure counseling, identifying benefits, illustrating guidelines, and explaining partner notification.. Complete self-assessment exercise on the benefits of disclosure counseling.. Explain partner notification in disclosure counseling..

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Review definitions of communication and counseling from Units 1-3, Module 1.
  • Create concept maps linking Units 3-5 HIV/AIDS concepts.
  • Practice applying counseling approaches (directive, humanistic) from Unit 4, Module 1 to case studies.
  • Focus on HIV transmission modes (Unit 2, Module 3) and prevention strategies (Unit 1, Module 5).
  • Study the stages of bereavement (Unit 2, Module 5) and crisis counseling techniques (Unit 3, Module 5).
  • Understand the ethical guidelines for disclosure counseling (Unit 4, Module 5).
  • Memorize key definitions related to stigma and discrimination (Unit 4, Module 6).
  • Review all TMAs.

Questions students ask about this course

What is HEM731 about?

This course introduces students to communication and counseling principles within the context of HIV/AIDS. It explores the nature of communication, counseling processes, and various approaches to counseling. The course covers HIV/AIDS-related stigma, discrimination, prevention strategies, and specific counseling techniques for individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS. It also addresses the importance of pre- and post-test counseling, risk assessment, and ethical considerations in HIV/AIDS counseling.

How many units does HEM731 have?

HEM731, Communication And Counselling In Hiv/Aids, has 19 units across 5 modules, over 145 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is HEM731?

HEM731 carries 2 credit units, at 700 level in Health Sciences.

Is HEM731 hard?

HEM731 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study and problem solving work, and it has a practical component.

How long does HEM731 take to study?

About 208 hours of study, spread across its 19 units.

How is HEM731 assessed?

HEM731 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.

What do I need before starting HEM731?

Basic knowledge of psychology Understanding of human behavior Familiarity with healthcare concepts

What can I do with HEM731?

HIV/AIDS Counselor, Community Health Worker, Social Worker, Public Health Educator and Healthcare Provider.

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