Psychosocial Stressors of Families Affected by HIV/AIDS: Implications for Social Work Practice

• Published in: Journal of HIV/AIDS & social services 2010-04, Vol.9 (2), p.130-152
• Main Authors: Lichtenstein, Bronwen, Sturdevant, Marsha S., Mujumdar, Anil A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Caregivers; Children; families; Family; Foster Children; Health Problems; HIV/AIDS; Human immunodeficiency virus; Mothers; psychosocial stressors; social services; Social Workers; Stress
• ISSN: 1538-1501; 1538-151X
• DOI: 10.1080/15381501003795717

This study identified the psychosocial stressors of low-income families who were affected by HIV/AIDS in Alabama. Methods consisted of personal interviews with 12 social workers at public agencies and a review of social work charts for 80 clients at an HIV clinic for mothers and children. The combined results indicated that families were likely to experience housing instability, family breakdown, mental illness, behavioral problems, and stigma. Younger children typically lived with their mothers, while older biological children often resided with relatives or in foster care. Social workers perceived mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety to be common among women caregivers. Behavioral problems and learning difficulties were frequently reported among children but children who were not living with HIV/AIDS did not have the same access to health care and social services as their siblings who were living with HIV/AIDS. This outcome is relevant to social workers because the children who were affected by HIV/AIDS outnumbered the children who were living with HIV/AIDS by a ratio of 3 to 1. Findings suggest that a model of care that involves funding for family-centered services for caregivers and children would provide a useful foundation for building stronger, more resilient families.