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OSSREA Publications Directory!
The Consequence of HIV/AIDS on the Traditional Support Network of
Older Persons: The Case of Chibombo |
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Author: Yvonne Chinyama Matebele Sichingabula
Year: 2001
Abstract: For generations, the extended family in Zambia has operated as a social welfare system for older persons and other vulnerable group such as orphans and widows. However, the family and kinship bonds which were a safety net for the care of older persons is being weakened under the pressure of HIV/AIDS infections and related death. Despite the prevalence of HIV/ ADIS, among young adults, there is general consensus among policy markers and older Zambians that family support ought to be the dominant mode of old-age support. This is based on the premise that not only is traditional support network deeply rooted in the Zambian culture but also that the government does not have enough resources for setting up care homes for the aged and the provision of social security for the growing number of older persons.
The objectives of this study were to determine the existence reversal of roles between the carers and care recipients, assess how HIV/ AIDS has affected the informal support network of older persons in terms of hardships experienced by older people, and assess the literacy levels of the carers in order to determine how well the situation of care givers could be improved. This study was conducted in Chipembele, Kampekete and Shamputa villages located in Chibombo district of central province, Zambia. The sample size for the study that was conducted between November 2000 and August 2001 was 91respondents comprising older persons. Methods of data collection included the field observation technique, quantitative and naturalist qualitative approaches.
The results of this study revealed that although HIV/ ADIS is blamed for up-setting the traditional support network of older person, the underlying cause is poverty, which is prevalent in the study area. The study has also shown that incidents of older persons finding themselves in difficult situations, is new in Africa as they were taken care of by their extended families. HIV/AIDS illness and related deaths have brought a lot of hardships to the traditional support system of older persons. The support system of older persons entails that family members, especially adult children of normal parenting age take care of their aging relatives. HIV/ADIS has brought in a reversal roles where older persons are now active cares to the sick and the orphans. Orphans have also been drawn into care giving roles as they provide care to their aging grandmothers when sick.
The study concluded that due to HIV/ ADIS families are no longer able to provide the care needed by their older family members because HIV/ ADIS mainly affects young adults who are supposed to take care of their older relation. A reversal of roles has also increased forcing older person and orphans to actively take on the role of carers at the time they expect to be cared for. It is recommended that government should spearhead the restoration of the ethics of care and human development into its social and development programmes. This requires revisiting the Humanism concept so that families, communities and social relationships could be strengthened and promote social integration in society. NGOs should pay more attention to the effects for HIV/ ADIS on the care of older person as they have done for orphans and widows.
Publisher: Not Published
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OSSREA Publications