International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 2 No. 20 [Special Issue – October 2012] 228 Running before Crawling: The situation of HIV Care Givers in Thohoyandou, Limpopo Province, South Africa Keamogetse .G. Morwe* Clementine .D. Ramaila University of Venda Institute for Gender & Youth Studies Private Bag x 5050, Thohoyandou, 0950 South Africa Abstract The aim of this paper is to explore the profile of HIV caregivers in the Vhembe district, Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study uses a quantitative exploratory - descriptive research design. Thirty-nine female respondents aged between 20 and 35 completed the self-administered questionnaires. The findings of the study confirm the general perception associated with HIV; that HIV and AIDS is a disease associated with marginalisation. The majority of the care- givers are women with little education, based in a rural environment with inadequate amenities essential to enhance their vocation. Apart from the educational status and environment, the care-givers’ training on HIV palliative care is inadequate, thus rendering them susceptible to HIV infection. These findings imply that although HIV care-giving is beneficial, it can pose risks to both the patient and the care-giver. The paper postulates firstly, an environment where the barriers and the opportunities to men-volunteerism in care-giving are explored. Secondly, a comparative study of the profiles of caregivers in both rural and urban areas. Lastly, an investigation into the financial spinoffs that the government receives from HBC services needs to be investigated Key words: Care-giving, volunteerism, women, home based care (HBC), HIV and AIDS. Introduction The discovery and spread of the HIV pandemic has put tremendous strain on both the world health services and their economies as evidenced in Kenya where in 2008, 50-60 beds in public hospitals are occupied by HIV patients (www.avent.org). Moreover, the virus infects the most productive individuals of society, with women younger than 24 years carrying the largest burden of the disease, thus affecting their country’s economies (www.avert.org). The Sub- Saharan region of Africa has been the hardest hit with 22.500 million people infected with the HI virus in 2009 (Keeton, 2011). In 2005 it was estimated that between 4.5 and 6.2 million people in South Africa, are HIV positive (Nelson Mandela Foundation, 2005), with youth between the ages of 20 and 30 being the most vulnerable (Department of Health, 2003). Whereas in the Limpopo province, it is estimated that 13.7% of the adult population aged between 20 and 64 is HIV positive (Department of Health and Social Development: 2006), while Statistics South Africa estimated the infection rate to be at 10.98% (Statistics South Africa, 2011/2012). The information above intimates that the HI virus has put the health system under tremendous strain in terms of personnel and financial resources, thus the introduction of home based care (HBC). The Committee on a National Strategy for AIDS suggested that communities should be involved in caring for patients at their own homes (Uys and Cameron, 2003). This is because patients with terminal illnesses often express a desire to die at home within the security of a known environment, with their significant others (Project Literacy, 2008). The efficacy of HBC in lessening the burden on both the health and family systems cannot be under –estimated, but the persistent question is about the efficiency and effectiveness of HBC services. It is because of this question that a study to explore the situation of HBC care-givers was done.