Rompel MU, Gronemeyer R; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. ThPeD7788.

Institute of Sociology, Giessen, Germany

Background: In the absence of adequate health-facilities - especially in rural areas - the task of caring for ill family members is predominantly taken on by the extended family. The crucial question is, how this care can be perpetuated under the condition of growing numbers of ill and dying relatives, when the household economy, subsistent food supply, work-balance between the generations etc. are increasingly put under strain. Methods: The research is based on 95 qualitative interviews as well as participant observation of AIDS patients and family-members in their households, conducted (longitudinally) from 2000 to 2003 in rural Ovamboland. Results: Care-capacity in terms of manpower and nutrition is more accessible in rural areas than in towns and leads to movements, which reverse the usual work-migration from rural to urban areas. AIDS acts as a catalyst for social destruction: configurations that are already eroded are being destructed even more and are not able to serve many of the needs of the infected and ill - instead relations break down further leading to marginalisation and violence. Coherent social networks, that are marked by reliable relations, are able to carry more burdens and have a higher capacity. Customs change under the overload through AIDS: e.g. sending children to stay temporarily with relatives turns from relief to burden. Signs of strain of family networks are highly visible in orphan-headed-households, children that grow up in hospitals etc. Conclusions: There is still an admirable capacity and willingness to care. Furthermore, in many regards it is easier to cope with the impacts of AIDS in the rural social climate rather than the urban alternative. However, the burdens are growing rapidly with increasing numbers of ill, dying and remaining orphans.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Child
• Emigration and Immigration
• Family
• Family Characteristics
• Foster Home Care
• Health Services Needs and Demand
• Humans
• Namibia
• Rural Population
• Social Support

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0037341

UI: 102281557

From Meeting Abstracts