**1. Introduction**

Africa is a patriarchal society with women role detected by ethno-religious ideologies, economic as well as socio-cultural factors. These factors inform assignment of resources and responsibilities which is often laden with inequities between men and women [1, 2]. However, women have proven to be the central crux that holds family together while serving as primary caregiver to children and elderly globally as well as facilitating or hindering change in family life [3]. Additionally, with the scourge of HIV in the African society, the responsibility rest on them, a situation describing AIDS as having "a woman's face" in Africa [4]. While HIV prevalence continues to soar in Africa, it is eroding the health of women directly as well as indirectly diminishing their skills and productivity which adversely affects family life [4, 5].

An average of 75.7 million (55.9 million–100 million) people have been infected with HIV with about 32.7 million (24.8 million–42.2 million) AIDS-related death recorded since the onset of HIV epidemic in 1981 [6]. Presently, UNAIDS fact

sheet [6] reveal about 31.6 million–44.5 million (38.0 million) people living with HIV, with about 1.7 new infection in 2019. African disproportionately bear the burden of HIV with about 25.7 million people living with HIV and 470,000 AIDS related death in 2018. Although global effort has been directed to combat HIV impact in Africa, the continent still contributes about two thirds of global new HIV infections with about 1.1 million people infected in 2018 [7]. Nigeria remains Africa's most populous country, with about 1.9 million people living with HIV, 130000 new infection, and 53,000 AIDS-related death in 2018 [6]. The high prevalence of HIV will invariably invoke strain on family life especially when affected member returns home for succor.

The African nuclear family is a potent therapeutic force, and highly sensitive to the needs of its member, by providing physical, financial, emotional and spiritual support. Studies reveal that family remains the primary entity in caring for individuals, through which socialization, trust, loyalty and inter-family cooperation develops, and many counts on these attributes in adverse health condition [8, 9]. These attributes attracts afflicted members and act as a succor especially during terminal stage of HIV with co-morbidities [9, 10]. Caregiving although a normative role, is assumed most often by people without preparation or questioning even though it may disrupt work, family and social life of the caregivers. As the number of people living with HIV/AIDS increases, the demand for family members who assume caregiving role increases [11]. Moreover without appropriate restructuring of existing role to accommodate new caregiving roles, the increase in responsibility may constitute burden, which is detrimental to the caregiver's health as well as quality of care rendered to the care recipient [10–12].
