Housegood--Clark

The impact that HIV/AIDS has on an individual is very obvious and devastating. However, I have admittedly never given thought to the impact it has on the household, which could potentially be even more profound than on the individual person. Especially when multiple AIDS deaths affect a single household, there is bound to be something to learn from the tragic situation. Housegood, et al state, “When we first met the households their daily lives were dominated by efforts to cope with the direct and indirect effects of having a sick member with symptoms indicative of AIDS” (1251). She also mentions “The population is highly mobile; approximately 40% of male and 35% of female adult household members reside outside the area but return periodically and maintain social relationships with households” (1250). Under normal, stable circumstances, multiple AIDS illnesses are so hard to bear. What kind of impact does the fact that the population is very mobile have on the households in this context, besides the fact that it makes life overall more hectic?