Impact of AIDS on the family and mortality in Uganda.

A study is being conducted to examine household composition and family structure in the context of high AIDS-related mortality in Hoima, Iganga, Kabale, Masaka, Mbale, and Mbarara districts. The first phase of the study involved the review of ethnographic materials on the populations in the six districts, collecting information from elders and youths through focus group discussions, and the administration of an individual elders' questionnaire. The second phase was a large-scale household survey in the districts to document recent changes in household composition and family structure, while phase three will be carried out three years after the second phase. That final phase will involve re-surveying areas covered in phase two to determine any subsequent changes which have occurred in the communities. This paper presents the results from the elder's survey conducted during phase one. A total of 143 elders, 109 men and 34 women, were interviewed. The respondents were at least 45 years old and all were heads of households. The survey posed questions on household composition, mortality, morbidity, the impact of AIDS upon the family, general health status of the community, and migration. Findings are presented on family composition and structure, AIDS mortality, feelings of loss by elders, and changes in funeral rites and inheritance.