The Impacts of HIV/AIDS on Older Populations in Developing Countries

Abstract

The authors describe features of the older population and the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Thailand and discuss potential links between them. Both direct and indirect impacts of AIDS on the Thai older population are discussed, but the focus is on how older persons could be indirectly affected by AIDS infections occurring among their adult children. Five major mechanisms are identified through which these indirect effects can occur: finances, health, time commitments, social relationships, and emotional status. Factors that could affect the degree and distribution of such impacts are discussed, and a research agenda is proposed for exploring the impact of AIDS on older persons in developing countries, drawing on the authors' current research project on this topic in Thailand. Several substantive areas are suggested that warrant investigation, and the advantages and weaknesses of a number of methodologies that could be used to pursue these topics are discussed.