Caring for a Loved One with AIDS: A South African Perspective

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to give a voice to individuals in South Africa who care for loved ones dying of AIDS. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 family caregivers in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Because of the stigma attached to AIDS, both caregivers and the person with AIDS were forced to remain silent, and an unspoken agreement existed whereby neither AIDS nor the impending death were typically acknowledged by the caregiver or the sick person. Because of the context in which they lived, the caregiver and the dying person were denied the opportunity to say goodbye, and anticipatory grief was relatively rare on the part of the caregiver because the sick person usually only sought help from family members shortly before dying. Caregivers were also unable to obtain much support from either the community or professionals. In general, caregivers were satisfied that they had done the best they could under very difficult circumstances. Some broad guidelines are suggested for addressing the concerns of caregivers in the South African context.