The dynamics and pitfalls of home-based caregiving rendered by male caregivers in the city of tshwane metropolitan municipality, South Africa

This study investigated the dynamics and pitfalls surrounding home-based caregiving as rendered by male caregivers in the South African City of Tshwane Metro Municipality. An exploratory-descriptive qualitative design was adopted to specifically understand the roles, responsibilities, challenges, and coping strategies of male caregivers who render HBC services in the city of Tshwane Metropolitan municipality. Following the Family Systems and Social Support theories, data was collected through the semi-structured interviews that were supported by an interview guide with ten open-ended questions. Thematic analysis, according to Braun and Clarke (2019), revealed four themes around the general roles and responsibilities of caregivers, the challenges encountered when rendering care as well as the adaptive coping strategies for managing their challenges. Whereas the study help providing an all-encompassing picture of how male caregivers juggle the huge responsibility of caregiving under difficult circumstances, it pointed to the significance of having sensitive policies, availing psychosocial support, and training programmes as well as some advocacy initiatives to dispel some of the myths surrounding caregiving by males. Despite home-based care being characterised by several challenges, male caregivers seem to cope through self-care, training and self-development as well as social support networks.