Experiences of elderly people caring for Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive orphans on antiretroviral treatment in Swaziland

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of elderly people caring for HIV positive orphans on antiretroviral treatment in Swaziland. An exploratory, descriptive and contextual qualitative study based on a phenomenological approach was conducted. Data was collected by means of semi structured interviews with twelve elderly people purposively selected at Mbabane Government Hospital antiretroviral treatment clinic. The findings of the study highlighted that the elderly people were giving care under compulsion with very little support from the government, the community or other organisations. Their care giving capacity was compromised by many challenges which included the heavy burden of caring for a number of dependents; economic constraints; poor infrastructure; food insecurity, and physical, psychological and social constraints. The elderly were employing a number of coping strategies to counteract the challenges that they were facing. The researcher concluded that the elderly people were vital in ensuring the survival of sick orphans under the paediatric antiretroviral treatment programme in Swaziland if afforded sufficient support and empowerment.