Stressors and coping strategies of older adults as caregivers in the era of HIV/AIDS: A case study of Botswana.

Abstract

Background: The HIV/AIDS pandemic in Botswana is having a devastating effect on families and disintegrating the traditional family structures where older adults are becoming the main caregivers instead of care receivers. The care of children, older people, and the sick in most African Botswana is mainly performed by the youth who also support the family financial. In some cases older adults especially women babysit their grandchildren with the support of adult children and close family members. However, the high HIV infection and AIDS related dead rate among the youth who economically and socially are the productive population has forced older adults into the care of AIDS infected and affected family members. The purpose of this study is to determine the stressors and coping mechanisms of these older caregivers. Methods: The Purposive sampling technique will be used to recruit a homogenous sample of caregivers who are 65 years old and older caring for orphans and AIDS infected persons in Botswana. Face-to-face in-depth interviews will be conducted and questions will be asked on the stressors and coping mechanisms of the participants. To bring out the uniqueness of each case, a detailed description will be provided with a focus on the history of the cases and the sequence of events. A within-case analysis will be done to identify the themes in each case and a cross-case analysis will also be performed by establishing and comparing cases with common themes.