Background: HIV/AIDS is an epidemic infectious illness which affects anyone regardless of age,rnsex, social class, academic level and race. It has a significant direct or indirect impact not only onrnthe patient but also on the care-givers with significant morbidity, mortality and economic burden.rnDespite an increased care for the infected individual, the psychological impact of the illness on therncare-givers has been undermined specially in low to middle income countries including Ethiopia.rnTo date there have been no studies about the psychological functioning of care-givers raising HIVrnpositive children. rnObjective: The objective of this study is to explore the psychological functioning of care-giversrnof HIV positive children following at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. rnMethods: Data was gathered on 14 participants, biological parent and close relative, using semistructuredrninterviews.rnTherninterviewsrnwerernconductedrnin Amharic,rntranscribedrnandrnthen translatedrnrnintornEnglish.rnTherndatarnwerernanalyzedrnusingrnthematicrnanalysisrnrnResult; This finding showed that the care-givers age range from 22-85 and 13 out 14 care-giversrnwere female. Majority of them were at low academic level, low socioeconomic status and haverntemporary employment. Most of them were biological and single parent and they were also seropositive.rnThernresultrnidentifiedrnthatrncaregiversrnexperiencedrnemotionalrnpainrnafterrnhearingrnthernresult,rnrnpersistentrnorrntransientrnmaternalrnguilty,rndepression,rndealingrnwithrnsero-discordance,rndiscrimination,rnrndisclosurernconcernrnandrnchangernofrnbehaviorsrninrnthernchild.rnThernfindingrnalsornhighlightedrnthernrnrnpresencernrnofrneconomicalrnstruggle,rnhousernproblemrnandrnunemploymentrnonrntherncare-givers.rnTorngetrnthroughrntheirrnrnpsychologicalrndistressrncare-giversrnalsornusedrnspirituality,rnhope,rngettingrnfinancialrnorrnmaterialrnsupportrnrnandrnsharingrnresponsibilityrnwithrnolderrnchildrenrnasrntheirrncopingrnmechanisms.rn rnrnConclusion; Caring for HIV positive children is found to be psychologically burdensomernespecially in a resource limited setting. So, having an integrated mental health service for caregiversrnrnis unquestionable. Considering the high burden of care-giving in women, it will be veryrnimportant to involve male care-givers and empower women economically.