The daily grind of the forgotten heroines: experiences of HIV/AIDS informal caregivers in Botswana

With the increasing number of people living with HIV/AIDS and the escalating costs of health care, there is an increasing demand for informal caregiving in the community. Currently, much emphasis is placed on individuals who are living with HIV/AIDS (in terms of the provision of social, psychological and economic support), but very little attention has been paid to the well-being and quality of life of informal caregivers. Lack of support and care for caregivers may have a negative impact on the quality of care and effective services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. This paper is based on findings from a qualitative study that explored major sources of stress associated with caregiving among informal caregivers in a village in the southern part of Botswana. The paper suggests that informal caregivers are an integral part of the continuum of care. As a result, they need to be nurtured and supported for the betterment of those both infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The paper concludes by discussing the implications for further research, policy and programme development.