SUGGESTIONS BY HOME-BASED CAREGIVERS CARING FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS ON HOW SOCIAL WORKERS COULD SUPPORT THEM IN MANAGING THEIR WORK-RELATED CHALLENGES

Maditobane Robert Lekganyane,Nicky Alpaslan

doi:10.15270/55-2-712

Maditobane Robert Lekganyane, Nicky Alpaslan

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.15270/55-2-712

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Abstract

A lacuna in the indigenous social work literature on how home-based caregivers caring for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) would like to be supported by social workers in their caregiving duties led to the launching of a qualitative investigation. This investigation was conducted in South Africa to look into (i) the challenges experienced by caregivers in exercising their duties of caring for PLWHA, (ii) how they manage such challenges, and (iii) suggestions on how social workers can support them. This article presents findings specifically pertaining to suggestions made by the caregivers on how social workers can support them.

Highlights

AND BACKGROUND As public health care facilities face difficulties in managing a huge number of patients with AIDSrelated conditions, home-based care (HBS) became an alternative form of relief for many of them (Campbell & Foulis, 2004:5; Friedman, Mothibe, Ogunmefun, & Mbatha, 2010:14; Mashau, Netshandama & Mudau, 2015:1; Qalinge, 2011:51; Tshabalala, 2008:1;World Health Organisation, 2010:15)
THE RESEARCH FINDINGS The research findings in a form of demographic data on the participants as well as the themes and subthemes derive from the following topical question put to the participants: How and with what would you like social workers to assist you as caregivers caring for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA)?
The fact that 22 out of the 25 participants are female corroborates the existing body of evidence on caregivers who care for PLWHA (Marincowitz, Jackson, & Fehrsen, 2004; Orner, 2006:237; Schneider, Hlophe & Van Rensburg, 2008), which shows that an home-based caregivers (HBCGs) is generally a female, underscoring the view that caregiving is women’s work (Akintola, 2005:6; Kolhi et al, 2012; Maes & Kalofonos, 2013:57)

Summary

Introduction

AND BACKGROUND As public health care facilities face difficulties in managing a huge number of patients with AIDSrelated conditions, home-based care (HBS) became an alternative form of relief for many of them (Campbell & Foulis, 2004:5; Friedman, Mothibe, Ogunmefun, & Mbatha, 2010:14; Mashau, Netshandama & Mudau, 2015:1; Qalinge, 2011:51; Tshabalala, 2008:1;World Health Organisation, 2010:15). With a clear mandate to provide comprehensive health and social services to PLWHA ensuring their maximum comfort, functioning and health within or close to their homes (DSD 2006:1), caregivers became clearly visible in communities where they reached out to patients who missed their scheduled treatment. Such patients, as noted by Bester and Herbst (2010:460), can fit into one of the following three categories: Category 1 patient: Patients in category 1 do not exhibit any manifestation of opportunistic infections associated with AIDS. Antiretroviral support entails the necessary guidance and advice provided to patients who are on ARV treatment by the caregiver with the aim of ensuring the required compliance; Category 2 patient: These patients need nursing care from a professional and psychosocial care from a caregiver at least once a week

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