As a result of the potential complexities in receiving support when physically ill, it is useful to obtain judgments from receivers of support as to the - the two stages of HIV infection; firstly there is the perceived helpfulness of supportive efforts [16]. Identifying helpful behaviors will contribute to our understanding of the specific types of support that are likely to be perceived as helpful. Such information would not only shed light on the mechanisms through which support may influence health status and adjustment to illness, but would also be useful to health care professionals in developing interventions to enhance the support available to the patient. Hence, the present study aimed to identify the types of helpful support provided to HIV-infected persons and the sources of such support