HIV/AIDS And The Changing Role Of The Aged: Understanding The Role, Constraints And Consequences for the Elderly as Providers of Education to Children Orphanaged By HIV/AIDS.

Although HIV/AIDS has become a concern for all age groups, to date little has been written about its impact on the older adult population. Society's prior reluctance to deal with HIV/AIDS as a problem in the general population has only served to compound problems of addressing HIV/AIDS as a concern for elderly adults (Linsk, 1994). However, more recent examination of the issues reveal that older persons are increasingly being affected by HIV/AIDS directly (personally) and indirectly, through knowledge of and interaction with HIV positive family and friends. In fact, it has been argued (Whipple & Scura, 1989) that older adults should be considered at risk for HIV/AIDS because they express themselves sexually, may be (or have been) intravenous drug users, may have received blood transfusions, and may already have a compromised immune system due to other age- and health-related conditions. The aged in Uganda have been both infected and affected. Unfortunately it is difficult to identify those that are infected with HIV/AIDS due to the poof modalities of blood check-ups. The other category of elderly are those affected because members of their families have died of AHIV/AIDS. In fact the effect of HIV/AIDS on the elderly, has changed their role from being looked after to looking after others especially grand children after their children have died of HIV/AIDS. This paper presents results of a research carried with intentions of finding out how HIV/AIDS has changed the role of the aged in Uganda. The study was a case study of Kayunga district in central Uganda and the research design was a cross-section one. Data was collected from 300 randomly selected households using survey questionnaires, exploratory interviews and focus group discussion. Collected data was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Results of this study, indicated that at least 81% of the surveyed households have suffered an HIV/AIDS related death and that up to 43% aged above 55 yeas are providers of education to grand children after their parents (Children of the aged) have died of HIV/AIDS. This research also revealed that these elderly people with income that can hardly support their daily basic needs have an extra burden of providing basic needs for the orphans. The research also revealed that among the orphans of victims of HIV/AIDS, 16% have symptoms characteristics of HIV positives. More pronounced of the HIV/AIDS related symptoms was prolonged sickness among these orphans, this imposed an extra burden of treating such a child. It was concluded that indeed the effect of HIV/AIDS has indirectly changed the role of the aged from being provided for to providers. This kind of scenario was found to contribute to early demise of the old people and hence the contribution of the aged to the development of the country lessened. The research therefore recommended that government should put up a policy aimed at assisting the extra burdened aged people. The policy of not screening children for HIV/AIDS should be revised such that any child found positive is provided free access to Anti-Retroviral (ARVs). It was further recommended that government and civil society organisations provide the elderly with directly or indirectly affected with HIV/AIDS with special care programs.