Family-based care and psychological problems of AIDS orphans: Does it matter who was the care-giver?

Abstract


The purpose of this study is to compare psychological symptoms among double AIDS orphans (i.e. children who lost both of their parents to HIV/AIDS) who were in the care of different family-based caregivers (i.e. surviving parent, grandparents, other relatives, and non-relatives) before they were replaced in orphanages. The participants include 176 double AIDS orphans from four AIDS orphanages in rural China. Prior to being replaced in AIDS orphanages, these children had received family-based care by different caregivers, which included surviving parent (38%), grandparents (22%), other relatives (19%), and non-relatives (22%). The psychological measures include traumatic symptoms, depression, and loneliness. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses suggested that children who were previously cared for by non-relatives scored significantly higher in traumatic symptoms, depression, and loneliness scales than children who were previously cared for by their surviving parent, grandparents, and other relatives. Children in the care of grandparents reported the best scores on all psychological measures among children in the care of non-parent relatives. Multivariate analysis, controlling for children's gender, age, length in orphanages, number of household replacements, and total duration of replacement, revealed that the type of caregivers was significantly associated with psychological problems. Results in the current study suggest that children under the care of their grandparents reported the best psychological outcomes when their parents were unable to care for them because of AIDS. Appropriate psychological support and counseling services are needed for AIDS orphans who were either currently or previously under non-relative family-based care in China.



Guoxiang Zhao Qun Zhao Xiaoming Li Xiaoyi Fang Junfeng Zhao Liying Zhang | source: Psychology, Health & Medicine 162 |
Categories: Psychology


Other articles

An Exploratory Study on the Challenges Faced by Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the Schools of Maleboho East Circuit of the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province to Develop a Multi-Disciplinary Mode

Society faces the serious challenges of having to find solutions to look after orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC), who…

Read more

Prevalence of Depression and Its Associated Factors among Orphan Children in Orphanages in Ilu Abba Bor Zone, South West Ethiopia

Orphans are the special group of children who are generally deprived and prone to develop psychiatric disorders even those…

Read more

Annotation: Childhood bereavement following parental death‏

Psychological outcomes in children who have experienced the death of a parent are heterogeneous. One child in five is likely…

Read more

CARING FOR AIDS ORPHANS: THE EXPERIENCES OF ELDERLY GRANDMOTHER CAREGIVERS AND AIDS ORPHANS

Barnett and Blaikie (1992:2) postulate that the advent of the HIV/AIDS phenomenon seems to have caught countries unaware,…

Read more