[HIV/AIDS family care-giving in Switzerland in the context of silence].
Based on critical hermeneutics, this qualitative study presents insights about care giving experiences of HIV affected families in the German speaking part in Switzerland. Eleven families (12 women, 5 men) were interviewed, and members of different families participated in group-conversations. Critical reflection of the results highlighted that these HIV-families offered family caregiving in a context of silence. Two perspectives of this silence are presented: 1. HIV-families do not share their experiences in their closer and larger environments because of stigmatization, changing family constellations, and traditional images of family care. Instead, HIV-families create silent circles. 2. Professional discourses about family care are almost absent in the Swiss health care system because of its focus on the needs of individual patients with health care providers, in particular nurses, offering no systematic health services tailored to family caregivers. The results highlight, that it is paramount for nurses to take responsibility and to create programs that will better serve HIV-families.
Institut für Pflegewissenschaft, Basel. rebecca.spirig@unibas.ch
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D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers; D005190:Family; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012944:Social Support; D013557:Switzerland