Battling with HIV infection in children in a resource-poor setting: an analysis of the coping strategies of the caregivers

Abstract

The devastating effects of HIV infection are more worrisome in resource-poor settings. In children, it runs a more chronic course, resulting in worsening morbidity that necessitates appropriate care. Caregivers, who may also be HIV-infected, are saddled with the responsibility of providing lifelong care and assistance to themselves, their children infected with HIV, and other members of the family. This is a battle that portends grave consequences, including a predisposition to psychological distress. However, not all caregivers present with psychological distress, signifying some levels of coping in them. This is this research’s thrust, which aims to determine how caregivers in resource-poor settings cope with HIV infection in their children. It also determined coping predictors among the caregivers. This cross-sectional analytical research enrolled 158 participants according to the inclusion criteria. The caregivers’ sociodemographic variables were obtained, and the Brief-COPE was used to determine their coping strategies. Inferential statistics was applied where necessary, to draw logical conclusions. Avoidant coping was the most utilized strategy among the participants (Median = 2.63, IQR = 1.25). Although a significant relationship existed between avoidant coping and caregivers’ sex, HIV status, marital status, socioeconomic class, and presence of other HIV-infected family members; a multivariate linear regression showed that only marital status (β = 0.17; t = 2.16; P = 0.03) and socioeconomic class (β = 0.21; t = 2.54; P = 0.01) independently predicted the use of avoidant coping among the participants. This showed a positive relationship as divorced participants and those of the lower socioeconomic class were more likely to use avoidant coping than participants in other categories. Caregivers of children infected with HIV largely deploy avoidant coping as a means to avert stressful life events. Being divorced and belonging to the lower socioeconomic class were the independent predictors of the use of avoidant coping.