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No description available.

This survey examined anticipatory grief as a process of grieving that occurs when a loved-one has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The inevitability of loss creates certain needs and feelings for the survivor. The study examined these needs, the extent to which these needs were satisfied, and the feelings. Finally, the relationship between dissatisfaction of important needs and certain feelings was observed. Findings show that certain needs, such as the need to gain knowledge about illness and to feel emotional support from family members rate as extremely important by the greatest number of respondents. These needs were not, however, rated as highly satisfied. It was also found that feelings such as anger, loneliness, and frustration were rated as occurring frequently when prognosis of death was within a year. Lastly, there was found to be a positive relationship between dissatisfaction of needs and these feelings.

This study employed a qualitative hermeneutic methodology to compare and explore the stress faced by families caring for a family member with cancer or HIV/AIDS. Four 'Indian' families, two with a family member with cancer and two with a family member with HIV/AIDS, were purposiveiy sampled through NGOs in Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Generally it appeared that the illnesses brought about a range of stressors in families including fmancial and care-related stressors, role changes, difficulties accessing medical treatment, uncertainty and the psychological responses of family members. The impact of these on families was mediated by the families' abilities, social support, a variety of meaning factors and stigma. It did however, appear that families caring for a family member with HIV/AIDS had to cope with several additional burdens including coping with a more prolonged and variable period of illness, fears of infection, increased difficulties accessing medical treatment, less social support and stigma. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002. / Konrad Schrenk