Since 1986 when the first case of AIDS client was reported in Swaziland, HIV has spread at an alarming rate. Swaziland is leading in the Sub-Saharan Africa and globally on HIV and AIDS pandemic with an estimated prevalence of 26% among adults aged 18 – 49 years. About 6,448 children in Swaziland are on anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Poor adherence to ART results in increased opportunistic infections, increased viral load, drug resistance, poor quality of life, and reduced life expectancy among the children.
The purpose of the study was to describe ART related challenges faced by caregivers of HIV positive children. The sample comprised 25 female caregivers. The findings revealed significant correlations: between the caregiver's education and relationship with the health care provider (r = -0.413, p < 0.05); employment and forgotten doses (r = 0.502, p < 0.05); duration of being on ART and forgotten doses (r = -0.403, p < 0.05); side effects and forgotten doses (r = -0.474, p < 0.05); age of child and difficulty in taking medicines (r = -0.529, p = 0.01); age of care-recipient and familiarity with prescribed ART (r = 0.461, p < 0.05); and between age of care-recipient and relationship with health care provider (r = 0.448, p < 0.05).
Caregiver challenges related to adherence to ART included the care-recipient having too many drugs to take; taste of the medication; age of the care-recipient; experiencing side effects from ART; lack of disclosure and social support; and forgetting. Based on the study findings it is recommended that health care providers strengthen their relationship with caregivers; and develop strategies that will assist working caregivers to reduce forgotten doses; advocate for few drugs; assist the caregiver in disclosing the status of the care-recipient to the care-recipient and family; and advise on measures to alleviate the side effects from ART.