Self-management guidelines for youth who have lost a family provider through HIV/AIDS.

BACKGROUND

When parents die from HIV/AIDS-related causes, children often experience emotional instability and are given additional obligations, such as caring for siblings. Youths may react in a variety of ways, including increasing alcohol consumption, and their relationships with their siblings may be altered positively or negatively.

AIM

The purpose of this article is to examine the lived experiences of youths in managing themselves after losing a family member to HIV/AIDS and suggest developed guidelines for nurses to advise youths on self-management after losing a family member to HIV/AIDS.

SETTING

Khayelitsha, Western Cape province, South Africa.

METHOD

A descriptive phenomenological design for this study was followed. The researcher conducted 11 semi-structured interviews with participants. The study was conducted with participants that were youth aged between 18 and 25 years.

RESULTS

The study revealed that the death of a family provider can be difficult for the youth left behind to deal with the changes in their daily lives.

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrated that the death of a family member has a significant impact on the family. One of the more senior family members must assume charge and remain strong to help their siblings focus on the future. The death of a family member might result in a cascade of forced changes that necessitate new behaviours to maintain stability.

CONTRIBUTION

This study's context-based data focuses on how the Community Health Centre (CHC) may assist young people in managing themselves after a family provider has died from HIV/AIDS, using the developed guidelines.