The Psychosocial Challenges Encountered by Male Caregivers Caring for People Living with HIV/AIDS in a South African Community

Community home-based care is an essential component of health care. Although mainly dominated by females, men have also played a crucial role as caregivers. Given the role stereotypes prescribed by societal norms driven by patriarchy, it is important to understand the challenges of males who perform duties that are deemed female roles like caring for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). This study sought to explore the psychosocial challenges encountered by male community home-based caregivers caring for PLHA in a South African community. The study was conducted in Pretoria West, a community under the city of Tshwane Metro Municipality, South Africa. Designed with a phenomenological, explorative, and contextual research framework, this descriptive qualitative study involved ten male caregivers of PLHA who participated in semi-structured interviews that were thematically analysed. The study’s trustworthiness was upheld through credibility, confirmability, transferability and dependability. The results pointed to complex psychosocial issues experienced by male caregivers including the difficulties in managing caregiving responsibilities, struggling to balance caregiving and personal life, and the impact of caregiving on their wellbeing and lifestyle. Furthermore, caregivers were found to be uncertain and anxious. Male caregivers experience complex challenges that negatively affect their psychosocial wellbeing. It is essential to design wellness programmes that support this category of caregivers.