The effects of home-based care of HIV/ AIDS patients on caregivers: a case study of Mafikeng

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of home based care of HIV/ AIDS patients on caregivers. The following were the study's main objectives: to explore the support systems available to assist caregivers: to investigate the challenges, experiences and stress encountered by the caregivers. A qualitative research method was used in the study to explore the support systems available for home based caregivers as well as their challenges during the process of care giving. The study investigated factors contributing to the care process and factors contributing towards quality care of caregivers towards HIV/ AIDS positive clients which amongst others are; stress and burnout, gender dimension of caregivers, lack of training, lack of caregiver motivation or incentives, lack of caregivers involvement in decision making process and inadequate community support networks. The study also answered the researcher's questions such as whether the caregiver's contribution to the care process is highly marginalized and whether this really affects the quality of care, whether caregivers are overwhelmed, frustrated, stressed and suffer burnout due to lack of psychological support and whether lack of training caregivers contributes largely to poor service delivery . The following were recommendations from the study in order to assist care givers to render quality, effective and efficient services to the HIV/ AIDS patients ; offering caregivers a formal training, civil society participation, recognition of caregivers by the wider communities, involving caregivers in decision making, taking them to debriefing workshops and team building exercises and initiating Caregiver's Support groups. There is also a need for supportive supervision from the managers and coordinators within the home based care setting