Ntozi, J. P.; Nakayiwa, S.

AIDS in Uganda: how has the household coped with the epidemic?
1999 - in Caldwell, J.;Orubuloye, I. O. ;Ntozi, J. P., The continuing HIV / AIDS epidemic in Africa: responses and coping strategies, Canberra, Health Transition Centre, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, p. 155-181

Keywords : Age Factors; AIDS; Behavior; Child; Culture; Data Analysis; Death; Delivery of health care; Demographic Factors; Diseases; Economic Factors; Family and Household; Health; health services; HIV Infections; HIV positive persons; Home care; Mariage patterns; Marital Status; Marriage; Mortality; Nuptiality; Orphans; Persons living with HIV/AIDS; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Psychological Factors; Remarriage; Research Methodology; research report; Sex behavior; Socioeconomic Factors; Traditional Ceremonies; Viral Diseases; Widowed; Youth
Countries : Africa; Developing Countries; Eastern Africa; Subsaharan Africa; Uganda

Abstract : This paper examines how households are coping with the AIDS epidemic and is based on data from four studies of six districts in Uganda between 1992 and 1995. Patient care was found to be principally given by the parents and other relatives. A considerable proportion of spouses cared for the male AIDS patients. Orphans were mainly cared for by relatives, especially grandmothers. Upon the death of one parent, the surviving parent was the principal caretaker. A number of orphans cared for themselves. People cope with widowhood by either remarrying or migrating. The effects of HIV and AIDS on traditional norms were reduction in widow inheritance, household management by the widows or relatives after the death of the household head, and resorting to shorter funeral ceremonies. In marriage, people coped by changing their behaviour to sexual abstinence, fidelity, separation or dissolution of marriages, decrease in polygyny, delayed marriage, and careful selection of potential marriage partners, including tests for HIV before marriage. (author's)