Weighing up the burden of care on caregivers of orphan children: The Amajuba District Child Health and Wellbeing Project, South Africa
Abstract
This paper assesses the burden on orphan caregivers relative to non-orphan caregivers in the context of high HIV/AIDS mortality in South Africa. It presents findings from the third round of a study conducted in the Amajuba District of KwaZulu-Natal between 2003 and 2007. Significant differences were found between orphan and non-orphan caregivers; the former being more likely to care for more children, have poorer health, higher levels of chronic illness, less adult help and they appeared to have more daily responsibilities. Orphan caregivers were also more likely to indicate that children in their care needed help for mental or behavioural problems but overall results showed that only 3.4% of all households had contact with child welfare agencies. The findings question assumptions about the capacity and capability of the extended family to absorb shocks to individuals and families.
Categories: Health Care
Other articles
Poorer health and nutritional outcomes in orphans and vulnerable young children not explained by greater exposure to extreme poverty in Zimbabwe
objective To describe patterns of association between different groups of young orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and…
Read morePosttraumatic Stress in AIDS-Orphaned Children Exposed to High Levels of Trauma: The Protective Role of Perceived Social Support
Poor urban children in South Africa are exposed to multiple community traumas, but AIDS-orphaned children are at particular…
Read moreChild prosociality within HIV-affected contexts: the impact of carer ill-health and orphan status
Considerable attention has been provided to the potential adverse outcomes for youth in the context of HIV and AIDS. Using…
Read moreProblems, Coping, and Efficacy: An Exploration of Subjective Distress in Orphans Placed in Ghanaian Orphanages
We used the Kidcope scale to explore problems experienced by participants within the preceding month, coping, and coping…
Read more