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Families in crisis : a comparative hermeneutic study of the impact of cancer and HIV/AIDS on familes.

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

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/3456
Date January 2002
CreatorsDu Plessis, Eugene.
ContributorsWassenaar, Douglas Richard.
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

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