Abstract

In many societies, the elderly take on the enormous role of being the caregivers of sick family members. Little is known about the context in which they provide HIV/AIDS-related care, and their role as caregivers is most often not documented. This study conducted interviews with 31 elderly carers to explore their care-giving activities in relation to adult children with AIDS-related illness, and to examine their perceived role in HIV prevention and management in rural communities in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The findings indicate that older adults who assume the natural role of caring for sick adult children live in multigenerational households. Key caring activities include the provision of physical and hygiene care, financial and emotional support, and health and nutritional care. Besides the physical caring activities, the elderly carers play a critical role in the prevention of HIV. They promoted condom use, encouraged HIV testing, and spoke openly about the HIV status of their sick adult children. Their critical role in administering antiretroviral treatment (ART) and encouraging adherence demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the importance of adherence and the complex ART regimen. The findings underscore the need to train and incorporate older adults into adherence programmes to facilitate their role as long-term adherence partners. They are also an essential vehicle to reduce stigma and discrimination in their communities.

摘要

在许多社会中，老年人扮演着生病家庭成员的照料者的巨大角色。关于他们提供与艾滋病毒/艾滋病相关的护理的背景，人们知之甚少，而且他们作为照护者的作用通常没有文献记载。这项研究采访了31名老年护理人员，以探讨他们与成年艾滋病相关儿童的护理活动，并检查他们在南非姆普马兰加省农村社区预防和管理艾滋病毒中的感知作用。研究结果表明，承担照料生病成年子女的自然作用的老年人生活在多代家庭中。关键的关怀活动包括提供身体和卫生保健，财务和情感支持以及健康和营养保健。除了身体护理活动外，老年人护理人员在预防艾滋病毒方面发挥着关键作用。他们提倡使用安全套，鼓励进行HIV检测，并公开谈论了患病成年子女的HIV状况。它们在抗逆转录病毒治疗（ART）的管理和鼓励依从性方面的关键作用证明了对依从性的重要性和复杂的ART方案的全面理解。研究结果强调，有必要对老年人进行培训并将其纳入遵守计划，以促进他们作为长期遵守伙伴的作用。它们还是减少社区中的污名和歧视的重要手段。它们在抗逆转录病毒治疗（ART）的管理和鼓励依从性方面的关键作用证明了对依从性的重要性和复杂的ART方案的全面理解。研究结果强调，有必要对老年人进行培训并将其纳入遵守计划，以促进他们作为长期遵守伙伴的作用。它们也是减少社区中的污名和歧视的重要手段。它们在抗逆转录病毒治疗（ART）的管理和鼓励依从性方面的关键作用证明了对依从性的重要性和复杂的ART方案的全面理解。研究结果强调，有必要对老年人进行培训并将其纳入遵守计划，以促进他们作为长期遵守伙伴的作用。它们还是减少社区中的污名和歧视的重要手段。