‘We are no longer called club members but caregivers’: Involving youth in HIV and AIDS caregiving in rural Zambia

Abstract

This study assessed the strategy of building young people's capacity to provide care and support to people living with HIV and AIDS in rural Zambia. Members of youth anti-AIDS clubs in schools and communities were trained as adjunct caregivers using a locally developed curriculum that allowed them to explore and challenge gendered notions of caregiving and emphasized networking with existing resources. Results show that caregiving increased among males (47% to 82%) and females (41% to 78%). Both sexes provided similar caregiving services, including help with household chores and personal care tasks. Youth also undertook activities with children to decrease their isolation, help them stay in school, and reach additional services. While clients and caregivers reported positive aspects of the programme, both reported frustration with the youths’ inability to meet material needs. This study demonstrates that trained youth already involved in anti-AIDS efforts can meet a range of care needs and be valuable assets to their community. It also highlights the importance of communicating clearly what youth can and cannot do, ongoing monitoring and support of youth caregivers, and involving community leaders to give youth credibility and access to local resources.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Horizons Program, which is implemented by the Population Council in collaboration with the International Center for Research on Women, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, Tulane University, Family Health International, and Johns Hopkins University. Horizons is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The authors would like to thank the members of the youth clubs who worked so hard and showed great enthusiasm and commitment, even under very challenging conditions. We also thank the clients who took part in the project by opening their doors to the youth caregivers and taking part in interviews and discussions. A special acknowledgment to members of the project team including the late Mutale Chomba, Amos Kasongo and Moses Zulu of Horizons/Population Council, Zambia; Mangala Chambeshi-Moyo and Tamara Fetters of Care/Zambia; and Dickstar Kaluba, Collins Mwansa and Mwape Chalowandya of Family Health Trust, Zambia. We acknowledge the support of local community leaders and all of our local partners, including the Catholic Diocese of Mansa, Catholic Archdiocese of Ndola, Mansa and Nchelenge District AIDS Task Force, Luapula Foundation, Society for Women Against AIDS Mansa, District Health Management Teams, District Inspectors of Schools, Project Concern International and St. Paul's Mission Hospital.