| Summary: | A thesis submitted to the Faculty Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Social Work in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2016 === The study was about work related conditions affecting community caregivers on HIV/AIDS positive people at eMondlo Township, which is approximately 28 kilometres from Vryheid town in KwaZulu-Natal. Vryheid is located in the Northern part of KwaZulu-Natal province and forms part of the Zululand District Municipality. It has a population predominated of black people. Mondlo Township is the area that was established in 1963 as an exclusive African settlement through the process of forced removals according to the Apartheid Law of Group Areas Act of 1950. Many of whom individuals had freehold title to their land and residence were also removed from so-called “black spots” as well as farms surrounding Vryheid. The researcher’s intention was to establish how community caregivers are affected by their work, explore how community caregivers feel about their work related conditions and outline the consequences experienced by community caregivers. Community caregivers provide long term care to the community despite the challenges they encounter when executing their duties. The study was conducted at eMondlo Township using twenty four (24) participants from three different public health clinics. Eight (8) respondents were selected proportionally from these clinics. The researcher used qualitative research design. Content analysis was used to analyze data.
Findings of the study indicated that the community caregivers are affected by their work. Various challenges have been identified, namely, shortage of resources, lack of substantial food, poor service from clinics officials, travelling long distances on foot, lack of debriefing and less salary. These findings show that the community caregivers are depressed. They have accepted living with the burden of caregiving, whereas it is slowly damaging their self-esteem and affecting their lives. The study indicates that community caregivers are now doing their work simply because they are passionate and are attached to their patients. Even the little salary they earn is the only income they have to support their families which sometimes end up being used in performing their work.
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