Caregiver Dynamics in HIV/AIDS-Affected Households

The global expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and shifts in family structures have profoundly reshaped the roles, responsibilities and resilience of caregivers in HIV/AIDS-affected households. Caregiving is increasingly characterised by intergenerational exchanges in which treated adults not only manage their own health but also provide financial, emotional and practical support to older and younger relatives. Traditional kin-based networks remain the principal source of care, yet demographic shifts have given rise to diverse caregiver profiles, including a growing number of female-headed households and emergent male caregivers who navigate entrenched gender norms to meet household needs. Economic strains, food insecurity and stigma persist as critical challenges, exacerbated by urban–rural disparities and variable access to community support. At the same time, caregivers have developed adaptive strategies—ranging from participation in peer support groups to reliance on extended social networks and spirituality—to mitigate burden and sustain household cohesion. This complex dynamic has implications for social policies, highlighting the need for integrated interventions that combine economic empowerment, psychosocial support and flexible social protection measures. Recognising the interdependence of caregivers and care recipients is essential for designing sustainable programmes that bolster household resilience, promote equitable involvement across genders and generations, and address the evolving landscape of HIV care on a global scale. Insights from this body of work inform the design of community health strategies, digital support platforms and policy reforms aimed at alleviating caregiver burden and fostering sustainable, family-centred models of HIV care.

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Caregiver Dynamics in HIV/AIDS-Affected Households publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in caregiver dynamics in hiv/aids-affected households across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Antiretroviral therapy (ART): A regimen of medications used to suppress HIV replication and restore immune function.
Spillover effects: Secondary benefits experienced by household members arising from interventions targeted at others.
Caregiver burden: The multidimensional strain—emotional, physical and financial—associated with providing ongoing care.
Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC): Minors whose parental support has been compromised by HIV/AIDS, increasing their risk of hardship.
Social protection: Policies and programmes designed to reduce vulnerability through financial, social and psychosocial support.

References

1. “I am adhering to HIV treatment so that I can live to support her”: A qualitative study of upward intergenerational support in South Africa. Journal of Global Health (2024).
2. Factors affecting caregivers’ participation in support groups for people living with HIV in Tanzania. Frontiers in Public Health (2023).
3. The experiences of caregivers of children living with HIV and AIDS in Uganda: a qualitative study. Globalization and Health (2017).
4. Female-headed households contending with AIDS-related hardship in rural South Africa. Health & Place (2010).
5. Reconsidering the orphan problem: the emergence of male caregivers in Lesotho. AIDS Care (2016).