ABSTRACT

Introduction “My caring experiences make me feel happy, they will help me in the future. If I am left alone, I will be able to do the duties. I become strong; I don’t become a weak child.” Joyce, age 12

In a globalised world, the management and support of people living with AIDS is an issue that concerns us all [1]. With our growing understanding of HIV and AIDS and improved access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), the AIDS epidemic is amenable to intervention and treatment management, changing its course to mirror the disease processes of other chronic illnesses [2]. According to orne [3] chronic illnesses are long term, and require careful management and adjustment by the patients and their caregivers as the person with the disease may uctuate between chronic and acute episodes. People living with HIV/AIDS also require careful management to sustain their health. is is particularly the case of those on ART whose diet, adherence to rigid treatment plans and psychosocial wellbeing has to be managed, a responsibility that is often shared with their primary caregiver.