Psychosocial Wellbeing and Health of Caregivers of AIDS Orphans in KwaZulu Natal

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究评估艾滋病孤儿危机对南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省（KZN）看护单位的社会和经济影响。这一地区的特点是育龄和工作年龄的成年人死亡率高，许多儿童因艾滋病毒/艾滋病而成为孤儿。拟议的研究将建立在申请人的初步定性工作（第一阶段）的基础上，该工作探讨了在KZN艾滋病孤儿的照顾者的经验。这项博士研究的首要目标是评估和描述艾滋病孤儿的护理经历的差异，作为护理背景和安排的功能，例如比较农村与城市环境中的家庭与非家庭安排。根据第一阶段的研究结果，申请人将：(1)开发一个可靠的和文化上合适的调查工具，突出在昆州城市和农村社区的护理经验（阶段Ha）；(2)对昆州护理人员进行横断面调查并分析调查数据（Phase lib）；(3)根据调查结果，对KZN不同社区的护理经验进行定性深度访谈（第三阶段）；(4)根据南非公共卫生、发展和政治背景分析和解释调查结果；并且，(5)在健康和发展危机的背景下扩展和促进家庭和护理理论。这种多方法的方法将填补文献的空白，突出了对艾滋病孤儿护理的基层观点。支持照料者（和儿童）的有效和可持续方法需要超越关于照料模式的大量轶事证据，而更深入地了解这一流行病对提供照料者的影响。目前，人们对那些照顾艾滋病孤儿的人的经历以及照顾孤儿的健康和福利安排的后果知之甚少。利用多学科方法，这项研究解决了紧迫的全球卫生问题，并将继续与公共卫生相关，因为艾滋病孤儿的人数继续增加。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This research assesses the social and economic impacts of the AIDS orphan crisis on the caregiving unit in KwaZulu Natal (KZN), South Africa. This area is characterized by high mortality among adults of reproductive and working age, with large numbers of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The proposed research will build upon the applicant's preliminary qualitative work (Phase I) that explored the experiences among caregivers of AIDS orphans in KZN. The overarching aim of this doctoral research is to assess and characterize differences in the care experience of AIDS orphans as a function of the context and arrangements of caregiving, comparing, for example, family versus non-family arrangements in rural versus urban environments. Based on Phase I findings, the applicant will: (1) develop a reliable and culturally appropriate survey instrument salient to the care experience in urban and rural communities in KZN (Phase Ha); (2) conduct a cross-sectional survey of caregivers in KZN and analyze survey data (Phase lib); (3) based on survey findings, conduct qualitative indepth interviews (Phase III) of the care experience in diverse communities in KZN; (4) analyze and interpret findings in light of the South African public health, development, and political context; and, (5) extend and contribute to theories of family and caregiving in the context of health and development crises. This multimethod approach will fill gaps in the literature by highlighting ground-level perspectives of care for children orphaned by AIDS. Effective and sustainable approaches to supporting caregivers (and children) require moving beyond largely anecdotal evidence on patterns of care and towards a deeper understanding of the epidemic's impact on those providing care. Currently, little is known about the experiences of those caring for AIDS orphans and the consequences of caregiving arrangements for orphans' hearth and well-being. Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, this research addresses urgent global health concerns and will continue to be of relevance to public health as the number of children orphaned by AIDS continues to grow.