The relationship between social support and the health of HIV-positive caregivers of children: A review of the empirical literature

Casale, Marisa; Wild, Lauren G.

doi:10.1080/17450128.2012.668232

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Parental physical illness and child orphanhood have been shown to negatively affect positive parenting by decreasing engagement, disrupting family routines, and increasing parental absence and neglect (Armistead, Klein, & Forehand, 1995). In South Africa, HIV/AIDS-affected families are associated with increased poverty (Gillies, Tolley, & Wolstenholme, 1996), parental depression (Kuo, Operario, & Cluver, 2012), lack of social support (Casale, 2012), and increased child behavior problems (Sipsma et al, 2013). Since these factors are also associated with reduced positive parenting, they may play a mediating role in the association between HIV/AIDS and positive parenting (Andersen, 1992; Gershoff, 2007; Lovejoy, Graczyk, O'Hare, & Neuman, 2000; Pardini, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive parenting for positive parents: HIV/AIDS, poverty, caregiver depression, child behavior, and parenting in South Africa

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Families affected by HIV/AIDS in the developing world experience higher risks of psychosocial problems than non-affected families. Positive parenting behavior may buffer against the negative impact of child AIDS-orphanhood and caregiver AIDS-sickness on child wellbeing. Although there is substantial literature regarding the predictors of parenting behavior in Western populations, there is insufficient evidence on HIV/AIDS as a risk factor for poor parenting in low- and middle-income countries. This paper examines the relationship between HIV/AIDS and positive parenting by comparing HIV/AIDS-affected and non-affected caregiver-child dyads (n = 2,477) from a cross-sectional survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (27.7% AIDS-ill caregivers; 7.4% child AIDS-orphanhood). Multiple mediation analyses tested an ecological model with poverty, caregiver depression, perceived social support, and child behavior problems as potential mediators of the association of HIV/AIDS with positive parenting. Results indicate that familial HIV/AIDS’s association to reduced positive parenting was consistent with mediation by poverty, caregiver depression and child behavior problems. Parenting interventions that situate positive parenting within a wider ecological framework by improving child behavior problems and caregiver depression may buffer against risks for poor child mental and physical health outcomes in families affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive parenting for positive parents: HIV/AIDS, poverty, caregiver depression, child behavior, and parenting in South Africa

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“…Published empirical work shows that social support is associated with better health outcomes among HIV-positive caregivers of children, and may be an important component of interventions aimed at safeguarding the wellbeing of this population (Casale & Wild, 2012). This is particularly relevant for public health in HIV-endemic communities in the developing world, given cumulative mental and physical health risks of living with HIV (World Health Organisation, 2005, 2008) and caring for multiple - biological and foster - children (Kuo & Operario, 2011; Musil, Warner, Zauszniewski, Wykle, & Standing, 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…This is particularly relevant for public health in HIV-endemic communities in the developing world, given cumulative mental and physical health risks of living with HIV (World Health Organisation, 2005, 2008) and caring for multiple - biological and foster - children (Kuo & Operario, 2011; Musil, Warner, Zauszniewski, Wykle, & Standing, 2009). However, a recent literature review identified only fifteen existing studies assessing the relationship between social support and health among HIV-positive caregivers of children, of which only one was conducted outside of North America, and none in Africa (Casale & Wild, 2012). Similarly, studies evaluating applied social support interventions among HIV-positive caregivers are few and fairly recent, and derive mainly from the developed world; moreover, they have not shown conclusive results (Davies, Hortona, Williams, Martin, & Stewart, 2009; S.…”

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confidence: 99%

“They give us hope”: HIV-positive caregivers' perspectives on the role of social support for health

2013

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A number of studies indicate that social support is associated with better health outcomes among HIV-positive caregivers of children, suggesting its potential importance for interventions aimed at safeguarding the wellbeing of this population. However, there is very little published literature assessing the support-health relationship or evaluating applied social support interventions with HIV-positive populations in HIV-endemic contexts of the developing world. The global literature on social support and health suggests that, in order to refine theory and improve interventions, greater attention should be paid to specific dimensions of support, such as types and sources, as well as the processes through which support may be affecting health outcomes. This article presents and discusses data from in-depth interviews with twelve HIV-positive primary caregivers of children living in an HIV-endemic, low-resourced, urban South African community. The primary aim of this qualitative work was to provide further insight into survey findings of a positive relationship between social support and self-reported general health and functioning, by exploring caregivers’ personal experiences of being supported within their community, and their perceptions on how this ‘informal’ support may be influencing their health. Our qualitative data highlight the importance of instrumental and emotional support for this population, the relevance of support provider characteristics and some of the processes or pathways that are likely explaining the support-health link. These processes include psychological factors such as mastery and hope, coping strategies and positive health behaviours. We provide recommendations for future research to further this work, and discuss implications for health interventions.

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“…Other studies have reported that fear of parents’ death as one reason children experienced anxiety after disclosure (32, 34). Other factors causing grief may be the feeling of helplessness that children experience (35). Another finding from this study that resonates with the existing literature is illustrated by the child in this study who reported feeling angry at her father for infecting her mother (32).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disclosure and Impact of Maternal HIV+ Serostatus on Mothers and Children in Rural Haiti

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Oswald

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Matern Child Health J

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Objectives Mothers living with HIV (MLWHs) in the United States have reported that one of their main challenges is the decision to disclose their HIV serostatus to their children and the potential consequences of their disclosure. Little is known about the experiences of MLWHs regarding disclosing their HIV serostatus to their children and the impact of maternal HIV disclosure in the island nations of the Caribbean. Study objectives were to identify the factors influencing maternal HIV disclosure, examine the breadth of maternal HIV disclosure, and understand the impact of disclosure on mothers and the children. Methods Baseline interviews were conducted between 2006–2007 with 25 HIV-positive mothers and 26 children ages 10–17 participating in a pilot psychosocial support intervention for HIV-affected youth and their caregivers in Haiti. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded for topical themes by two investigators. Results Analysis of the interviews yielded several themes relevant to reasons for disclosure, including children’s experience of HIV stigma in the community, social support and encouragement from psychosocial intervention workers. The main themes related to breadth of disclosure were brief disclosure and explicit disclosure with some mothers sharing information about how they learned about their illness diagnosis and their medication. Themes related to impacts of disclosure included emotional reactions for children and mothers, and children’s desire to assist mothers with illness and become involved. Conclusions These findings suggest the need to provide more psychosocial support to HIV-affected families in the Caribbean region.

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The relationship between social support and the health of HIV-positive caregivers of children: A review of the empirical literature

Cited by 13 publications

References 61 publications

Positive parenting for positive parents: HIV/AIDS, poverty, caregiver depression, child behavior, and parenting in South Africa

Positive parenting for positive parents: HIV/AIDS, poverty, caregiver depression, child behavior, and parenting in South Africa

“They give us hope”: HIV-positive caregivers' perspectives on the role of social support for health

Disclosure and Impact of Maternal HIV+ Serostatus on Mothers and Children in Rural Haiti

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