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Hidden victims of HIV/AIDS : the impact of caregiving on elderly caregivers

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-107).

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mangerah, Munirah
Other Authors: Thomas, Kevin G F
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Psychology 2015
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access_status_str Open Access
author Mangerah, Munirah
author2 Thomas, Kevin G F
author_browse Mangerah, Munirah
Thomas, Kevin G F
author_facet Thomas, Kevin G F
Mangerah, Munirah
author_sort Mangerah, Munirah
collection Thesis
description Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-107).
format Thesis
id oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/12415
institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:36:16.708Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2015
publishDateRange 2015
publishDateSort 2015
publisher Department of Psychology
publisherStr Department of Psychology
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source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/12415 Hidden victims of HIV/AIDS : the impact of caregiving on elderly caregivers Mangerah, Munirah Thomas, Kevin G F Clinical Psychology Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-107). The HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa and the concomitant high mortality rate of the middle generation has resulted in an increased number of orphans and vulnerable children (DVCs). The responsibility of care for these children has fallen to the extended family, especially elderly females. This study aimed to explore the impact of caregiving on grandmothers caring for DVCs in two Western Cape townships, and to statistically determine predictors of caregiver burden. Participants (n = 57) were members of a community-based supportive organisation, were grandmother caregivers to at least one grandchild, and lived in a household that was impacted by HIVI AIDS. A quantitative questionnaire, consisting of socio-demographic questions, as well as open-ended questions on participants' experiences within the organisation and of caregiving, was individually administered in Xhosa. The Burden Interview (BI), a standardised scale, was used to measure the impact of caregiving on the grandmothers across five dimensions (health, finances, psychological well-being, social life, and relationships). Descriptive statistical analysis of the socio-demographic questionnaire showed that caregiving occurred in the context of poverty, HIV/AIDS, chronic illness, and multigenerational households. Thematic analysis of the open-ended questions revealed that participants benefited financially and emotionally and gained knowledge and skills through membership of the community organisation. However, caregiving was commonly described as emotionally and physically exhausting. This burden was exacerbated by the age and health status of both caregiver and care-recipient, and behavioural difficulties in the care-recipient. A stepwise multiple regression analysis yielded three factors as significant predictors of burden (Rl = .41): the number of children for which the participant was the primary caregiver; the number of chronically ill people in the household; and the need for assistance with caregiving responsibilities. The latter finding probably implies that those who are the most stressed are most likely to require assistance with care. The findings highlight the important contribution of the elderly in buffering the psychosocial impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, sometimes at the expense of their own wellbeing. Policy-makers should consider the unique challenges and contributions of the elderly in this regard. 2015-02-10T13:37:43Z 2015-02-10T13:37:43Z 2008 Master Thesis Masters MA http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12415 eng application/pdf Department of Psychology Faculty of Humanities University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Clinical Psychology
Mangerah, Munirah
Hidden victims of HIV/AIDS : the impact of caregiving on elderly caregivers
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Hidden victims of HIV/AIDS : the impact of caregiving on elderly caregivers
title_full Hidden victims of HIV/AIDS : the impact of caregiving on elderly caregivers
title_fullStr Hidden victims of HIV/AIDS : the impact of caregiving on elderly caregivers
title_full_unstemmed Hidden victims of HIV/AIDS : the impact of caregiving on elderly caregivers
title_short Hidden victims of HIV/AIDS : the impact of caregiving on elderly caregivers
title_sort hidden victims of hiv aids the impact of caregiving on elderly caregivers
topic Clinical Psychology
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12415
work_keys_str_mv AT mangerahmunirah hiddenvictimsofhivaidstheimpactofcaregivingonelderlycaregivers