Transitions in caregiving and health dynamics of caregivers for people with AIDS: a prospective study of caregivers in Nairobi slums, Kenya

OBJECTIVE: A cohort of older people living in a low-resource setting in Nairobi is followed to understand the transitions in caregiving status and trajectories in health over a 3-year period.METHODS: Three categories of older people comprising 65 AIDS caregivers, 102 Other caregivers and 1,322 noncaregivers identified at baseline were assessed at end-line based on two self-reported health outcome measures, a functionality score and having a severe health problem.RESULTS: A majority of caregivers were still providing care at the end of the study, and or had taken on new care recipients. Compared with noncaregivers, AIDS caregivers reported poor health, with men more likely to report poor health than women. New caregivers also reported poorer health compared with noncaregivers.DISCUSSION: The results indicate improvement in health over time among male caregivers supporting the adaptation model. We recommend timely programs to support caregivers particularly at the onset of caregiving