Parenting self‐efficacy in the context of poverty and HIV in Eastern Uganda: A qualitative study

Abstract

We sought to understand social representations of effective parenting and parenting self‐efficacy among female HIV‐affected caregivers in rural Eastern Uganda. We conducted in‐depth interviews (n = 21) to describe parenting experiences and caregivers’ perceptions of their own parenting abilities and to create vignettes for use in directed focus groups. We carried out open focus groups (n = 2) to gain social perspectives on parenting, and directed focus groups (n = 2) concentrated on parenting self‐efficacy. Analysis involved memoing and inductive and deductive coding of transcripts. Caregivers’ perceptions of their own parenting were grounded in parenting values such as providing children with basic needs, having well‐behaved children, and having good relationships with children. Caregivers’ perceptions were influenced by challenges, including single parenthood, living with HIV, limited family resources, and mental health problems. When facing challenges, caregivers relied on social support and faith as well as their own parenting confidence. Caregivers’ perceptions of their parenting abilities were influenced by how they felt others perceived them, their satisfaction in the parenting role, their perseverance despite challenges, and the extent to which they had a vision for their family. Our findings contextualize parenting self‐efficacy within parenting values, challenges, and social perceptions among HIV‐affected caregivers in rural Uganda.

How do caregivers of children living with HIV/AIDS cope, and where do they get support?: A qualitative study in Ghana

“…Another study in Ghana reported stigma among tuberculosis patients, a disease that is usually associated with HIV/AIDS, due to the immunosuppression that arises from it and that stigma could stifle a source of support 53,54 . In this study, support was invariable low for many caregivers and centred on emotional/social support and spirituality and consistent with a study conducted in eastern Uganda 55 . A spectacular example of supporting caregivers points to Ref.…”

“…53,54 In this study, support was invariable low for many caregivers and centred on emotional/social support and spirituality and consistent with a study conducted in eastern Uganda. 55 CLWHs in this study were not given support for education even though they have poor school attendance and educational delays due to frequent hospital appointments and poor cognitive difficulties. A study in South Africa intimated schools served as support for adolescents living with HIV/AIDS which could be beneficial for CLWH not realized in this study as school authorities were not in the knowledge of the CLWH's predicament.…”