Policy Brief: The Protective Role of Social Support for Caregiver Mental Health

Primary caregivers of children in poor HIV-endemic communities represent a high risk population for mental health conditions, given the challenges associated with caring for biological and foster children in difficult social and financial conditions. This may be especially true if caregivers are living with HIV or other chronic illness. No large studies have previously explored the relationship between social support and health with caregiver populations in HIV-endemic areas of southern Africa.