Children caring for parents with HIV and AIDS

Dr. Ruth Evans is a Lecturer in Social and Cultural Geography at the University of Reading, England. She has extensive research experience with children and families affected by HIV and AIDS in Tanzania and with children and young people experiencing social exclusion in the UK. Professor Saul Becker is Head of the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham, England. He has researched and published extensively on young carers in the UK and internationally and is the Director of Young Carers International, a global research and information network.

• Children's and young people's caring responsibilities within the family; HIV and the family; Reflexivity, methodology and ethics: the research process; Living with HIV and the effects on family life: parents' narratives; Children's and young people's care work in households affected by HIV and AIDS; Resilience and impacts of care work for individual young people and their families; Resilience and impacts of young people's care work within the school and wider community; The role of formal safety nets in building children's and families' resilience; Global and local processes influencing young people's caring roles in families affected by HIV and AIDS; Responding to the support needs of children and young people caring for parents with HIV.

"Governments and NGOs must act to provide support to children and young people affected by HIV and AIDS, recognising their special role as young carers. The recommendations in this groundbreaking, cross-cultural study are a good place to start." Carol Levine, Director of the Families and Health Care Project, United Hospital Fund, New York City