A comparative study of Bereavement between AIDS related and non- AIDS related deaths.

- Bereavement, AIDS and non-AIDS related deaths 2 This study investigated the differences and similarities in bereavement due to HIV/AIDS and bereavement due to other forms of death. The participants comprised of nine (9) mothers and two (2) fathers of deceased children, varying in age from eight (8) months to twenty (20) years. A single, unstructured interview was used to collect the data. Grounded theory was utilised in the analysis of the qualitative data. Comparisons were drawn between HIV/AIDS and non- HIV/AIDS related bereavement. The findings indicate a difference in the experience of HIV/AIDS related bereavement and non-HIV/AIDS related bereavement. Stigma played a significant negative role in the experiences of those parents/caregivers whose children had died from HIV/AIDS. In addition, parents/caregivers experienced significant feelings of responsibility for their child's infection although the child had not contracted the disease from the parent. The implications and applications of this study are twofold. Firstly, a better understanding of the bereavement process can result in important and innovative recommendations being implemented in order to refine existing HIV/AIDS intervention programmes or develop new ones. And, secondly, it can result in a more refined approach to the care and comfort that is currently being provided for HIV/AIDS patients and terminally ill patients and their families.- Bereavement,AIDS and non-AIDS related deaths