AIDS,the individual,family and community: psychosocial issues

Understanding of the psychosocial factors associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at both the individual and societal levels is essential to the design of programs aimed at treating the virus and containing its spread. In Africa, AIDS has profound implications for economic development, the general quality of life, demographic patterns, male-female relationships, child development, and family structure. Relevant psychosocial issues include fear of the unknown and the tendency to depersonalize AIDS victims, burn-out on the part of caretakers, fear of contagion, fear of being around a dying person, helplessness, and anger. Poverty undermines coping capacities and pushes many families affected by AIDS into disorganization and crisis. Moreover, the shame and guilt associated with AIDS in Africa leads many families to isolate themselves from social support. Through trends such as the loss of skilled manpower to AIDS and a need for aging parents to reassume full care of infected adult children, AIDS has disrupted Africa's social system as well. Community education is essential to reduce fears related to living amidst those who are infected, sick, and dying and minimize the erosion of societal institutions.