| dc.description.abstract | This study was intended to analyze the contribution of caretakers
to the low self-esteem of adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. Self-
esteem is a person’s complete sense of their worth. It is how much
someone likes, respects and values themselves.
Research shows that the existence of low self-esteem is high among
Adolescents Living with HIV (ALHIV), compared to their HIV negative
peers, which is evidenced through the feeling of unworthiness about
one’s HIV status which prevents them from living a full and
enjoyable life. Scholars have attributed this to factors like
rejection, loss of social identity and non-disclosure. The
contribution of the caretakers to the low self-esteem of ALHIV has
been overlooked and is silent in the literature. This study
therefore sought to address this gap, found in the literature, by
assessing the contribution of the caretakers to the low self-
esteem of ALHIV.
A qualitative single case study design was used to collect and
analyze data using interview guides. The research was driven by
three objectives; To assess the caretakers’ knowledge on HIV/AIDS
and its impact on the self-esteem among ALHIV, To determine the
caretakers’ attitude towards the ALHIV, and To establish the
challenges caretakers face while taking care of ALHIV in Kalungu
district; a case of Lukaya Healthcare Centre.
Lukaya town council was selected because it is one of the hot spots
for HIV/AIDS in greater Masaka region, while Lukaya Healthcare
Centre is the biggest ART Clinic in the district.
The study found out that most ALHIV have a low self-esteem,
according to the scores from the Adolescent Self-Esteem
Questionnaire Tool, and caretakers play a big role and have
contributed greatly to the low self-esteem of these ALHIV because
they have spent most of their time with them while growing up,
nurturing them and talking into their lives.
The study further found out that the caretaker’ lack of knowledge
on the basics of HIV/AIDS, their negative attitude towards the
ALHIV and the challenges they face as caretakers while taking care
of the ALHIV are some of the things that have caused the caretakers
to make this great contribution of to the low self-esteem of
adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV).
In order to boost the self-esteem of ALHIV, both ALHIV and
caretakers should be sensitized on what self-esteem is, the public
in general should be taught the meaning of HIV/AIDS, caretakers
should be cautioned on their attitude and should be supported to
with income generating activities. | en_US |
