Assessing the psychological well-being of caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS in Niger Delta region, Nigeria Festus Abasiubong a *, Emem A. Bassey b , Olawale O. Ogunsemi c and John A. Udobang d a Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria; b Department Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria; c Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria; d Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Received 10 January 2010; final version received 11 August 2010) Despite the availability of anti-retroviral drugs and treatment, the care and support of people living with HIV/ AIDS has continued to be a major challenge, with greater impact not only on the people living the disease. The burden associated with care often results in high level of stress among caregivers, usually manifesting as anxiety and/or depression. This study assesses the levels of stress among caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS in Niger Delta region of Nigeria, in order to determine their coping strategies. Between July and December 2008, 322 caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS attending HIV clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital were randomly assessed for stress (anxiety and depression), using Zung’s Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20). A total of 293 caregivers comprising 98 (33.4%) males and 195 (66.6%) females were analysed. Mean age of males was 44.094.5 years and females was 39.394.0 years. The difference in the mean was statistically significant (p B0.001). Of the 293 caregivers, 191 (65.2%) and 115 (39.2%) were scored high on SDS and SRQ-20, respectively (representing the levels of stress). Using SDS groups on SRQ-20 subscales, 134 (45.7%) had anxiety only, 23 (7.8%) depression only, 52 (17.7%) had a mixture of anxiety and depression, while 11 (3.7%) exhibited suicidal tendencies. There is increasing level of stress in caregiving. Therefore, adequate attention must be given to the psychological well-being of caregivers to enable them contribute positively to the care of people living with HIV/AIDS. Keywords: assessment; psychological; well-being; caregivers; HIV/AIDS; Nigeria Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a significant global socio-economic health problem (Mutangadura, 2005; The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS [UNAIDS], 2003). There is increasing evidence that the sub-Saharan Africa is highly endemic with more than 60% of the people living with the disease (WHO, 2007). Over the years, the care of people living with HIV/AIDS has been a major challenge world- wide (Madani, Al-Mazrou, Al-Jeffri, & Al Huzaim, 2004; UNAIDS, 2005). Although concerted efforts are being made to improve the quality of life of people living with the disease in many countries, the role of caregivers has not been extensively explored. In spite of the increasing burden of daily care and support, little attention has been given to their psychological well-being. However, evidence abounds of lack of adequate programmes aimed at improving their health status in several countries (Baker, 2003; Mutangadura, 2005). Caregiving is stressful and often associated with physical, social and emotional consequences (UNAIDS, 2004). In many African countries with continued increase in HIV prevalence, people living with the disease do not have sufficient resources to afford care (Akintola, 2004; UNAIDS, 2002). In spite of awareness and access to health institutions, oppor- tunities to address specific health needs are limited. The situation is compounded by poor infrastructural health care facilities development and shortage of manpower. Thus, responsibilities for care are being shifted away from clinics and hospitals, forcing people living with HIV/AIDS on family members for survi- val. The implication isthe wide range of complications with diverse social and economic consequences (UNAIDS, 2007). The impact on caregivers could be enormous, leading to high level of stress and manifest- ing as anxiety and/or depression. These symptoms could be debilitating and capable of affecting the care, considering the poor psychiatric care services in many HIV/AIDS endemic countries. *Corresponding author. Email: fesab2000@yahoo.com AIDS Care Vol. 23, No. 4, April 2011, 494500 ISSN 0954-0121 print/ISSN 1360-0451 online # 2011 Taylor & Francis DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2010.516340 http://www.informaworld.com