Correlates of grief among older adults caring for children and grandchildren as a consequence of HIV and AIDS in South Africa.
OBJECTIVE
Over the past few years, older people have become the main caregivers for their sick adult children and orphaned grandchildren due to HIV/AIDS in South Africa. This article aims to investigate the scope of care provided by older people, with a specific focus on the experience of grief due to multiple losses and its correlates.


METHODS
Quantitative interviews were conducted among 820 isiXhosa speaking caregivers of 60 years and older in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.


RESULTS
Older persons are involved in a wide range of care activities with several dependents to care for. Grief among older adults is most strongly predicted by perceived stigma around HIV and AIDS and worries about providing the care.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides insight into correlates of grief among older caregivers and results in useful information to inform the development of interventions to assist older persons in coping with their responsibilities as caregivers.
Boon
Hermien
H
Health Promotion Research and Development Unit, Medical Research Council, South Africa. hermien.boon@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Ruiter
Robert A C
RA
James
Shegs
S
van den Borne
Bart
B
Williams
Eka
E
Reddy
Priscilla
P
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D054540:Child, Orphaned; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013019:South Africa; D013240:Stereotyping; D013315:Stress, Psychological