PhD Studentship - Roles and Experiences of Informal Carers Providing Care to People with Advanced Illness in Sub-saharan Africa

About this project

HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of disease burden, death, and bereavement in Africa, with 1.5 million new HIV infections in 2020, set against the context of structural deprivation and inequality. This PhD will focus on the care and support needs of informal carers of those with advanced illness in Sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, the care and support needs for people unable to access anti-retroviral treatments and their informal carers are substantial and more often than not provided by family members, more so by women and children. Whilst community support is a key driver of positive caring experiences for other advanced illnesses, this is stymied for those with HIV/AIDs due to community stigma and marginalisation. The PhD will be guided by an initial systematic review that will then inform the subsequent exploratory-sequential approach to explore the roles/experiences of people providing informal care to those living with and dying from HIV/AIDS in a Sub-Saharan African.

For informal inquiries, please contact:

Dr Joseph Clark, Email: joseph.clark@hyms.ac.uk

About the research cluster/about the research environment

This PhD cluster comprises four cross-Faculty inter-linked PhD scholarships, to address health inequalities in advanced illness at regional, national, and international levels. In the United Kingdom, demographic changes mean the proportion of older people is growing fast, with a rapid increase in the number of people living with advanced illnesses, including long-term conditions, complex multi-morbidities, and frailty.

Funding

• The successful applicant will receive a fee waiver and a maintenance grant / stipend for three years (full-time) or five years (part-time), which covers the research period of the PhD. The fee waiver for 22/23 is £4,596 (Home fee) and the maintenance grant is £17,668 per annum. This rises each year in line with the UKRI’s recommended stipend allowance.

• If you need to move into a fourth year (full-time) or sixth year (part-time) to complete your thesis, please note that you will not receive a tuition fee waiver or maintenance grant during this period and you will be required to pay a continuation fee.

Submission of thesis

Submission of your final thesis is expected within three years and three months from the start of your PhD scholarship for full-time and within five years and six months if studying part-time.

Eligibility and entry requirements

Applicants should have a minimum 2:1 degree in a health, social care or social science-related subject. A taught MSc or Masters by Research (MRes) in a relevant subject would be an advantage.

International applicants

This opportunity comes with a Home fee waiver only, which will not cover the full International fee. You will therefore need to pay the difference between the Home fee and the International fee and will need to provide evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover this.

How to apply

Applications are via the University of Hull webpage

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