The AIDS pandemic has affected the lives of millions worldwide and has a particular devastating impact in Sub-Saharan Africa. Much is known about the effects of AIDS on children and on young adults but little attention is given to the plight of grandparents. This study focused on an increasing phenomenon in the black South African family and the increase of families headed by aged individuals who are often reliant on pension payouts for their livelihood. Against this background, this research explored the challenges facing a sample of ten black South African grandmothers between the ages of sixty-four and seventy-eight, living in Katlehong, west of Ekurhuleni in the outskirts of Johannesburg. These participants attended a granny-support group at Khanya Family Centre, a non-governmental organization. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted. The study focused exclusively on the participants’ challenges to cope, and their social support needs as caregivers. The findings of this study showed that elderly women caring for AIDS orphaned grandchildren faced substantial obstacles in meeting their caregiving responsibilities. Some of the challenges faced by these grandmothers as caregivers included lack of psychological support, emotional support and socio-economic support. They also experienced stressful lives, compounded by age-related ailments and conditions. Coping with the challenges of caring for the AIDS orphaned grandchildren as well as their own problems negatively impacted on their psychological, emotional and physiological well-being.

Introdução: A qualidade de vida de crianças órfãs por aids pode sofrer um impacto negativo no desenvolvimento e crescimento físico. Objetivo: Estimar a força muscular de membros inferiores de crianças órfãs por aids, segundo características sociodemográficas, condições clínicas, atividade física e crescimento corporal. Material e métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 171 crianças órfãs por aids no município de São Paulo. A variável dependente foi a força muscular, avaliada por meio do teste salto horizontal. As variáveis independentes foram os aspectos sociodemográficos, condições clínicas, atividade física habitual, brincadeiras no lazer, estágio maturacional, estado nutricional e composições corporais. Na análise estatística, foi utilizado o teste “t"de Student e análise de variância ANOVA. Resultados: Crianças órfãs por aids apresentaram menor força muscular em relação a outras crianças brasileiras. Meninos tiveram melhores resultados no teste de força. Crianças cuidadas por um dos pais saltaram mais. Resultados semelhantes foram obtidos para crianças mais velhas e de maior grau de escolaridade. Maior gordura corporal influenciou negativamente o salto horizontal. Crianças com maior circunferência de panturrilha saltaram mais. Conclusão: Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de atenção à saúde das crianças órfãs por aids. / Background: The quality of life of children orphaned by AIDS may suffer a negative impact on their development and growth. Objective: To estimate the muscular strength of low limb in children orphaned by AIDS according to sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, physical activity, and body growth. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 171 children orphaned by AIDS in the city of São Paulo. The dependent variable was muscular strength, measured by long jump. The independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, habitual physical activity, playing during free time, maturation stage, nutrition state, and body composition. The analyses included Student’s t-Test and ANOVA. Results: Children orphaned by AIDS showed less muscular strength when compared to Brazilian children. Boys had better results in the test of strength. Higher jump was observed among children taken care of by a parent, older children and children with a higher educational level. Higher body fat affected negatively the long jump. Children with higher calf circumference performed long jump better. Conclusion: The results highlight the need of addressing attention to the healthcare of children orphaned by AIDS.

Introdução: A qualidade de vida de crianças órfãs por aids pode sofrer um impacto negativo no desenvolvimento e crescimento físico. Objetivo: Estimar a força muscular de membros inferiores de crianças órfãs por aids, segundo características sociodemográficas, condições clínicas, atividade física e crescimento corporal. Material e métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 171 crianças órfãs por aids no município de São Paulo. A variável dependente foi a força muscular, avaliada por meio do teste salto horizontal. As variáveis independentes foram os aspectos sociodemográficos, condições clínicas, atividade física habitual, brincadeiras no lazer, estágio maturacional, estado nutricional e composições corporais. Na análise estatística, foi utilizado o teste “t”de Student e análise de variância ANOVA. Resultados: Crianças órfãs por aids apresentaram menor força muscular em relação a outras crianças brasileiras. Meninos tiveram melhores resultados no teste de força. Crianças cuidadas por um dos pais saltaram mais. Resultados semelhantes foram obtidos para crianças mais velhas e de maior grau de escolaridade. Maior gordura corporal influenciou negativamente o salto horizontal. Crianças com maior circunferência de panturrilha saltaram mais. Conclusão: Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de atenção à saúde das crianças órfãs por aids. / Background: The quality of life of children orphaned by AIDS may suffer a negative impact on their development and growth. Objective: To estimate the muscular strength of low limb in children orphaned by AIDS according to sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, physical activity, and body growth. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 171 children orphaned by AIDS in the city of São Paulo. The dependent variable was muscular strength, measured by long jump. The independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, habitual physical activity, playing during free time, maturation stage, nutrition state, and body composition. The analyses included Student’s t-Test and ANOVA. Results: Children orphaned by AIDS showed less muscular strength when compared to Brazilian children. Boys had better results in the test of strength. Higher jump was observed among children taken care of by a parent, older children and children with a higher educational level. Higher body fat affected negatively the long jump. Children with higher calf circumference performed long jump better. Conclusion: The results highlight the need of addressing attention to the healthcare of children orphaned by AIDS.