South Africa is one of the countries most affected by HIV/AIDS, and the impact on children living in affected households and communit ies is significant. The loss of a parent or caregiver due to an AIDS. related illness has le ft many children orphaned. Understandings of bereavement. particularly amongst African adolescents. and adults’ responses to orphans’ psychological and emotional d ifficulties, remains under.developed. This paper explored adolescents’ experiences of par ental AIDS.related illness and bereavement. Ten adolescents participated in this s tudy. Qualitative methods such as observation, individual interviews and a focus grou p were the means of data collection. Key findings of the study were that: adolescents we re profoundly affected by the death of their parents with some showing signs of great anxi ety in relation to their future; were in need of emotional and material support; and were af fected by the intense stigma associated with HIV/AIDS which resulted in secrecy and shame. This study suggests that if we listen to the voices of children, we will learn about thei r emotional, psychological, developmental, and behavioural needs, which in turn will inform interventions working with vulnerable and orphaned children. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

HIV/AIDS epidemic has caused much devastation and has left many children destitute and in need of care and supervision. The present study investigated the psychological impact of caring on non-professional caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS. General systems theory stands as the epistemological framework informing the study. The study made use of a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of eight non-professional caregivers who participated in the study .From the themes that were abstracted it was evident that caring for HIV/AIDS orphans is emotionally, physically and mentally strenuous for the caregivers. It was better recommended that caregivers be given recognition for their challenging work and be included in the planning and development of programmes that affect their caregiving role. Furthermore emotional, psycho-social, and income-generating skills support programmes including training and educational programmes should be implemented. This will alleviate the distress inherent to the caregiving role and to equip them with the necessary skills for handling the demands of their work. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

This study looked at how children who are exposed to the impact of HIV/AIDS in their immediate families are affected and what coping strategies they employ. Research was conducted in Lusaka, Zambia, involving eight female and eight male Zambian children between the ages of thirteen and sixteen, as research participants. Separate gender specific focus group discussions were held, after which the recorded proceedings were transcribed and analysed using thematic content analysis. The study found that children experience socioeconomic difficulties, psychosocial deprivations, and insecurity as a result of parental death or illness. However, they are still able to find ways to survive and cope with their difficulties. State and private sector efforts have focussed primarily on addressing the socioeconomic needs of these children as this has been understood to be the most critical. The psychological impact of HIV/AIDS on children in Zambia, and the resultant needs that arise, will need to be tackled as a matter of priority.

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical psychology )) --University of Limpopo, 2009 / This study is aimed at exploring the influence of shame and stigma on the psychological functioning of HIV/AIDS and cancer patients. Four hypotheses were stated and they are: 1. There will be a difference on the scores of shame and stigma and psychological functioning between HIV/AIDS and cancer patients. 2. Patients who experience shame and stigma are more likely to experience psychological dysfunction than those who do not. 3. Females will experience more shame and stigma, and then consequently report more psychological dysfunctions than males. 4. There will be a difference on the scores of shame and stigma and psychological functioning between age groups. Method: This study used a quantitative research design. A convenient sample of 100 HIV and cancer patients from different race, ethnicities, genders and age groups participated in this study. Statistical tests used to measure the results included means and ANOVAs. Results: Results revealed that HIV patients do experience more enacted stigma and anxiety than cancer patients. Enacted stigma and perceived community stigma were associated with anxiety, and depression. Females experienced more enacted stigma than males whiles males and internal felt stigma than females. There were age differences in the experience of somatic symptoms and internal felt stigma. Conclusion: Recommendation included that shame and stigma be addressed through stress management and the community counselling model.

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2008 / The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological difficulties encountered and ways of coping by HIV/AIDS orphans in Limpopo Province. The sample was comprised of 70 children whose parent(s) died of HIV/AIDS related diseases between the ages 05 and 18 years. The data were collected through the use of face to face interview and questionnaires. The study results show that as a results of trauma resulting from taking care and witnessing ill parent(s) die, HIV/AIDS orphans suffer from sadness, helplessness, anger, guilty, aggression and frustration that often lead to withdrawal and subsequent depression, In quantitative study Beck Depression Inventory was also used to determine the levels of depression (mild, moderate, and/or severe levels) and it was discovered that HIV/AIDS orphans experience moderate to severe depression. The study further looked on whether demographic factors including (age, gender, religion, home language, number of siblings, and level of education) have an impact on the experience of depression. Qualitative study findings also discovered that HIV/AIDS orphans do not experience the relationship with their caregivers as being supportive. Furthermore, mixing with non-orphaned peers was reported to be a mission and emotionally distressing. Qualitative study also discovered that HIV/AIDS orphans lack many adults whom they can trust and who they could be able to express their feelings, as result they try to find their own ways of coping with their circumstances. However, quantitative study also looked at three ways of coping (cognitive, behavioural and avoidance ways of coping) that could be used by HIV/AIDS orphans. This was achieved through the use of ways of coping scales. The findings of this study discovered that HIV/IADS orphans use cognitive and avoidance ways of coping more than behavioural ways of coping. Furthermore, the study looked at whether there is a relationship between ways of coping and biographic factors (age, gender, religion, home language, number of siblings, and level of education). It was discovered that HIV/AIDS orphans are psychologically distressed and need to be transferred for psychological therapy after the loss of their parents.

The goal of this study was to explore the experiences of children who were orphaned on account of HIV and AIDS as well as the experiences of their caregivers, thereby improving the knowledge base of practitioners working with children and their caregivers.This qualitative study was designed to answer the following research questions: • What are the experiences of children orphaned on account of HIV and AIDS? • What consequences does the HIV and AIDS pandemic have on children? • How do children cope with AIDS-related loss and grief? • What are the caregiver’s roles, experiences and perceptions regarding children orphaned on the account of HIV and AIDS? • What resources and support systems are available to caregivers in fulfilling their roles in relation to children? The social ecological model provided the theoretical framework for this study. Qualitative data was collected through personal interviews with eleven children and ten caregivers. This was supported by observational visits to the homes of the participants and secondary analysis of case files. The major themes that emerged were the phenomenon of absent fathers and the dominant role that women play. The caregivers had to keep their grief to themselves and more urgent stressors took priority in their lives. Grief was often held in abeyance as the caregivers had to focus on daily survival needs. Poverty overshadowed the lives of all the participants and a large portion of the South African population. Despite this the resilience on the part of the child participants was remarkable. Emanating from these themes, recommendations for social work practice and implications for future research are proposed. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

This dissertation is an exploration of the experiences and challenges faced by children who are heads of households, and are obliged to head families, which entails caring for their siblings, assuming adult roles and taking care of the general running of the households. A review of the literature revealed that research based on the experiences of children who are heads of households is a neglected field of study and there is limited information on the topic. This study aimed to explore, describe and interpret the experiences of children who are heads of households. The study attempted to highlight relevant issues that may provide guidance to different stakeholders in their efforts to deal with orphaned children, child-headed households and children who are affected by HIV and AIDS. Qualitative research processes were used in this study. Data collection took the form of face-to-face interviews, using an interview guide in making the interviews more flexible and at the same time covering all the aspects the researcher wanted to cover. Findings of the study revealed that orphaned children who are heading households experience various problems in addition to material needs. The study revealed that the main problem is poverty, lack of support structures, for example, support from family members, friends and the community at large and secondly, the unavailability and inaccessibility of service providers. The study also revealed that social discrimination experienced by orphans in child-headed households impacts negatively on their social functioning and education. Based on these findings, recommendations are made with regard to the roles of the Departments of Social Welfare, Health, Education and Home Affairs in ensuring satisfactory services to orphaned children who are heads of households. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

Victims of HIV/AIDS are not only those who are infected with the disease, but also those who are affected by it; such as the children of infected parents and relatives, and indeed, all children living in communities in which the disease has reached epidemic proportions. As the number of orphaned and vulnerable children continues to rise unabated in South Africa the question remains as to who will look after these children once their parents, and relatives, have died. Research shows that the extended family continues to be the first line of support for such children; however, the dissolution of the extended family, due to HIV/AIDS, is also widely documented. The aim of this study is to explore two non-kin models of care which are available to orphaned and vulnerable children in KwaZulu-Natal; a transition home and a cluster foster home. The two organisations chosen for the study cater for children who are at different stages of childhood; one caters specifically for babies and toddlers, while the other caters for children and young adults between the ages of five and the early twenties. Both organisations emerged as a response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic which is profoundly evident in the areas in which the organisations are situated. The theory of social rupture thesis is utilised as it asserts that the extended family is reaching breaking point in terms of absorbing orphaned and vulnerable children, and therefore that it is slowly losing its ability to act as the first line of support against the disease. Based on the research and findings of this study, this hypothesis was found to be true, as was evident in the large (and increasing) numbers of children who can be found living in non-kin models of care around South Africa. An interesting phenomenon which was documented in both organisations was the re-emergence of the father figure in the home setting. South Africa is a country where the majority of children grow up without a traditional father figure and these two homes expressly include men in the lives of the children in order to highlight what they consider to be the necessary role of men within a family setting. This study explores the central themes which emerged during the research; that of the impact of shifting care-givers on the development of children, as well as the many socio-cultural issues which foster parents face while raising foster children. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

This dissertation examines the housing conditions experienced by the AIDS orphans at Malangeni. It documents and highlights the housing conditions and makes policy recommendations with regards to addressing housing needs of AIDS orphans. AIDS orphans are faced with the problem of inadequate housing. They are living in houses that have a variety of defects. These houses have broken windows, broken doors, leaks, holes in roof, cracks on walls, mould as well as poor ventilation. These, AIDS orphans are being cared for by their relatives, like their aunties but in most cases it is their grandparents that are getting money from the pension grant to support the whole family. The community of Malangeni is very poor and it does not have adequate funds to provide assistance to solve this problem of inadequate housing. The government and the community organizations have done very little to trying and provide assistance in this regard. AIDS orphans get emotional and moral support from members of local churches who visit each and every household that has AIDS orphans. It can therefore be argued that given the inadequate housing conditions that AIDS orphans live in, there is a need for housing policy to address the problem by providing AIDS orphans with housing that has basic infrastructure facilities that ensure basic health and safety and most importantly, improve the overall quality of life. / Thesis (M.Housing)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.

Thesis (Ph.D.(Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.