AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #389 - Intergenerational issues between older caregivers and children in the context of AIDS
Authors: Presenting Author: Ms Wamuyu Manyara - HelpAge International
Additional Authors: Dr Douglas Lackey, Ms Glynis Clacherty, Ms Patricia Martin,
Aim: Commissioned by the Regional Inter Agency Task Team on Children and AIDS – Eastern and Southern Africa (RIATT-ESA)and HelpAge International, this study sets out to document the roles of older carers in raising orphaned children and the consequent intergenerational relationship challenges faced by the older carers and the children in their care in seven countries in eastern and southern Africa. The study also sought to identify external care and support mechanisms for both older carers and children, and any limitations or gaps. The research will be used by RIATT-ESA to make recommendations on strategies and interventions to support and improve intergenerational relationship challenges faced by older carers and children orphaned by AIDS.
Method / Issue: The AIDS pandemic has caused high mortality rates amongst adults aged 15 – 49 years, many of whom are parents, in eastern and southern Africa. The death of one or both parents impacts directly on the older parents - the grandparents - as well as on their children. Between 40% and 60% of orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa are cared for by their grandmothers. Grandparents are emerging as the ‘new’ parents at a time when they themselves need care and support in old age. Given the scale of the issue, not enough is understood about the nature of these caring relationships. This has resulted in policies, frameworks and legislation which do not respond fully to the intergenerational issues of grandparents and children and in particular, do not take address Psycho Social Support issues.The study comprises a review of published literature and qualitative research undertaken with older caregivers and children.Focus Group Discussions, with elderly caregivers and their grandchildren were conducted in seven countries in Eastern and Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Tanzania)in order to gather evidence.
Results / Comments: Results of the study show that the relationship between children and older carers is significantly reciprocal – children look after their grandparents as much as the grandparents look after them, both sharing practical and emotional support roles. Children feel proud to do intimate caring tasks for the elders in their homes and most often do these tasks with love. Children were very clear that they would rather live with grandparents than other extended family members. Elderly caregivers take their role as parents seriously, encouraging school-going and attempting to teach the children they care for about how to look after themselves, including how to prevent HIV and AIDS. However, there is also evidence of a generation gap in that much of their teaching is admonitory and does not quite meet the longing that grandchildren have for open communication about relationships. Children especially want their grandparents to help them cope with their sadness at the loss of their parents and to allay their fears about their futures when their grandparents die but grandparents are often wary of these discussions. Many of the children have a heavy burden of work, which usually includes earning an income for the household, and this causes emotional stress for them and for their caregivers. This stress sometimes leads to conflict between the generations and the work itself, coupled with household work and caring work, affects children’s school-going. Both elderly caregivers and children report the lack of support and at times open discrimination and exploitation of skipped-generation households by neighbours and peers. Girls and boys had similar concerns but one of the gender issues that arose was the difficulty children have with cross-gender caring of elderly people.
Discussion: The findings will enable RIATT-ESA to make a number of recommendations on improving the livelihoods and psycho-social well-being of children and their older carers.Children and elderly caregivers also made a number of recommendations about the support they would like to receive. Assistance to meet basic needs was important for both children and carers. Elderly carers sought training in parenting skills and children looked for help to talk to their grandparents about issues that worried them.
Go Back