Die belewinge van informele versorgers van MIV/VIGS-pasiënte: ‘n salutogene perspektief

Abstract

Family members as well as informal caregivers are increasingly bearing the responsibility of taking care of persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, 2000:5). The intensity of the caregiving process and the variety of stressors caregivers are exposed to (Uys, 2002:101-102; De Figueiredo & Turato, 2001:637-640; Flaskerud, Carter & Lee, 2000:128), have been well researched and documented. In this study, the salutogenic perspective was used to determine the sense of coherence of a group of eight informal caregivers. This perspective serves as one of the theories within the movement of positive psychology, where the focus is on the origins of psychological well-being. The results of the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) and the analysis of semi- structured interviews revealed a number of general resistance resources that have a positive influence on the caregivers’ sense of coherence, as well as their psychological well-being. These results may lead to the development of a psycho-educational program which will assist caregivers in maintaining their psychological well-being in spite of the stressors associated with caregiving.

Opsomming
Versorging van persone gediagnoseer met MIV/VIGS word toenemend die verantwoordelikheid van die pasiënte se familielede en informele versorgers (UNAIDS, 2000:5). Die intensiteit van die versorgingstaak, en die verskeidenheid stressore waaraan versorgers blootgestel word, is reeds goed nagevors en gedokumenteer (Uys, 2002:101-102; De Figueiredo & Turato, 2001:637-640; Flaskerud, Carter & Lee, 2000:128). In hierdie studie is die salutogene perspektief aangewend om die koherensiesin van ‘n groep bestaande uit agt informele versorgers te ondersoek. Hierdie perspektief dien as een van die teorieë binne die beweging van die positiewe sielkunde waar gefokus word op die oorsprong van psigologiese welstand. Die resultate van die Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) en die ontleding van semigestruktureerde onderhoude het ‘n aantal algemene weerstandshulpbronne aan die lig gebring wat ‘n positiewe invloed gehad het op die versorgers se koherensiesin, asook hul psigologiese welstand. Hierdie resultate mag lei tot die samestelling van ‘n program wat versorgers sal help met die handhawing van hul sielkundige welstand te midde van die stressore wat met die versorgingstaak gepaardgaan.