Family caregiving for AIDS patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We conducted a qualitative study of women who were caregivers for HIV/AIDS-affected spouses in Bumbu Zone, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003. Twelve caregiving women, six home/based care workers and five key informants were interviewed via focus group discussions. Most women reported huge problems in providing care to their spouses due to psychological, social and economic factors. The secrecy around HIV/AIDS issues and care was a significant theme in the findings. The self-reported health status of the caregivers indicated poor health.