Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER of ARTS in Community Work in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2003. / This study is about the attitudes of primary care givers who are caring for HIV/ AIDS orphans in the Ingwavuma area. As an evaluative research semi-structured interviews were conducted. A sample of -twenty primary care givers was drawn, 10 files were drawn from the Department of Welfare and Population Development Office and 10 files were drawn from the local non-government organisation called Ingwavuma Orphan Care. Permission to use departmental files was sought from the department concerned. Related literature that focuses on a HIV/AIDS and Orphanhood has been reviewed. Various recommendations have been made based on the findings of the study. The findings indicate that a need exist for training on parenting and coping skills. HIV/AIDS orphans need to be involved in counselling especially on trauma counselling, this can help a lot in improving the relationship between primary care givers and vulnerable children.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts (Counselling Psychology) in the Department of Psychology University of Zululand, 2005. / Programmes addressing psychosocial needs of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS already exist in Sub-Saharan countries (Germann, 2002), yet in South Africa, few if any, of the relief programmes take cognisance of psychological support. Failure to provide psychological support to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS may have negative, long lasting effects like mental illness, crime, street children and these can in turn result in dysfunctional societies. Thus the aims of the present study were to report on findings concerning available psychosocial intervention programmes and to provide information about the effectiveness of these programmes. Using purposive sampling to select research respondents, the researcher collected data personally. A questionnaire was administered to 19 female caregivers at Emoyeni Hospice in Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal to evaluate psychological support intervention in their programmes. The questionnaire was translated to Zulu in order to avoid any misunderstanding. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis was used in order to conclude about the state of psychological interventions for children orphaned by HIV/ AIDS at Emoyeni. Research findings led to the following conclusions: • Care-givers at Emoyeni Hospice do include the component of psychological intervention support in their intervention programme. • The care-givers at Emoyeni Hospice still need to be helped to recognize the importance of letter writing, and facilitating remembrance of the deceased parent/ parents as a technique of psychological intervention. The present study revealed that caregiyers consider spiritual and physical support as important aspects for inclusion in the psychological intervention programme in order to maximize psychological well-being.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Master of Arts (Community work) in the Department of Social Work in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, 2018. / Recent studies indicate that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of school going HIV/AIDS orphans in South Africa. The study purpose was to explore the experiences of primary school educators supporting learners who are HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in the uMkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal. KwaZulu-Natal has the highest number of orphans. The study targeted primary school educators in UMkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal. A qualitative research approach was adopted for this study; due to using such an approach, the sample was selected through a non-probability sample technique with purposive sampling. Unstructured interviews were used to collect data from members of School Management Teams and focus groups were facilitated to gather data from class educators. Content analysis was used to analyse data. Three main themes emerged from the data analysis process: difficulties faced by educators; opportunities available for educators supporting OVC’s; and challenges educators face when supporting HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children. Findings of the study were that educators face challenges such as dealing with socially unacceptable behaviour of HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children. They indicated that it led to stress and depression. Opportunities for supporting orphans were limited since schools do not have policies and resources to provide support to HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children. Both educators and SMT revealed that they have limited knowledge of policies and skills to create school-based supportive environments. Challenges such as: a lack of resources, unresponsive guardians of orphans, poor attendance and performance of HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children were discovered. Recommendations were based on the training and development needed by educators. Educators unanimously agreed that outsourcing professionals, such as school social workers and psychologists, could help them cope with these predicaments they face. Secondly, involving community-based structures was another recommendation to ensure that everyone in the community plays a role in supporting educators. / UniZulu Foundation

xxi, 199 leaves: ill. / Introduction and purpose: This empirical study was carried out to determine the nutritional status and level of nutritional knowledge amongst orphaned children. A cycle menu will be developed after sensory evaluations of all protein enhanced dishes. Method: Anthropometric measures were used to determine the nutritional status and to measure the nutrition knowledge of 100 orphaned children aged 9 to 13 years old in Boipatong, Vaal region. A nutritional knowledge questionnaire was administered to the study group. Furthermore the anthropometric measurement was carried out and analysed with World Health Organization software (AnthoPius) using ±2 standard deviations cut off points, and data on nutritional knowledge were captured on Microsoft Excel and analysed for frequencies, mean and standard deviation (SD) using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 1'7. Results: The results for nutritional status revealed that 59% of the population studied were underweight, 40% were stunted and 25% were wasted. Most of the respondents (70%) scored less than 50% on the nutrition knowledge questionnaire. The mean correct answer for multiple choice questions was 29.65% and for true/false question was 50.34%. Conclusion: The orphaned children are under-nourished and wasted. Further to this, the nutrition knowledge of the orphans is poor. It is recommended that a nutrition education programme be implemented so as to address the issue of poor food choices and malnutrition. / National Research Foundation (NRF), VUT and Hubbs and Spokes 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.

HIV/AIDS has assumed epidemic proportions in the world of today. The main age group infected by this disease is between the ages of 20 – 40 years. The result of this is that the children who are not infected by the disease will be orphaned and forced to assume the role of head of the house and breadwinner, at a stage in their lives when they should not be burdened with these responsibilities. Orphans are perhaps the most tragic long-term legacy of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS exacerbates the trauma, hampers the bereavement process and exposes children to discrimination and victimization in their community and their extended family. Investigation into existing literature has revealed that insufficient previous studies have been conducted on HIV/AIDS orphans and even fewer pertaining to the emotional needs of the HIV/AIDS infected population in the South African context. For the purpose of this study it was decided to assess the emotional needs of HIV/AIDS affected orphans in the developmental stage of middle childhood. A literature investigation into the historical background of HIV/AIDS was done and the demographic impact of the disease on South Africa was given. The impact that HIV/AIDS has on the patient was discussed along with the impact that it has on the affected significant others of the patient. Secondly a literature investigation on middle childhood was done. The child in middle childhood as well as the family with children in middle childhood was discussed. Attention was given to the developmental tasks, developmental characteristics and the child’s comprehension of death during middle childhood. Attention was also afforded to the family with children in middle childhood with specific emphasis on the developmental tasks and needs of the family and the developmental tasks of siblings. The aim of the research study was to assess the emotional needs of HIV/AIDS orphans. An exploratory research design by means of a qualitative approach was followed. Five respondents were purposively sampled that complied with the set criteria. They were assessed through the utilization of six different Gestalt therapy techniques over a period of one week. Themes were identified through the empirical study. The research question “What are the emotional needs of HIV/AIDS orphans?” was answered and the following emotional needs of the respondents were identified: · Longing for the deceased mother. · Loneliness. · Stigmatization. · Preoccupation with the physical features of the deceased. · Anger. · Insecurity. · Preoccupation with death. · Fear of death. The following themes can be considered for further research in this field: · Establishment of a therapeutic program for affected children. · A comparison between the emotional needs of those children who have knowledge regarding their parent/s status and those who do not. / Dissertation (MA (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

South Africa has been affected both economically and socially by HIV/AIDS. The South African government has put policies in place to support people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and to ensure that they are not discriminated against. Many children have lost either one or both parents to this pandemic. The purpose of this research study was to explore community-based care for HIV/AIDS orphans. The research question for the study was: “What are the key components of community-based care for HIV/AIDS orphans?” The objectives for this study were as follows: -- To conceptualise community-based care for HIV/AIDS orphans. -- To determine the directions and limitations with regard to community-based care within the current policy framework for caring for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. -- To identify the components of Heartbeat’s model for community participation for community-based care of HIV/AIDS orphans. -- To determine the key components for effective community-based care in the care of HIV/AIDS orphans, to serve as guidelines for a sustainable community-based care model for these children. This was an exploratory study. The researcher made use of a case study, which is a type of a qualitative research strategy. Twenty HIV/AIDS orphans, six caregivers and one volunteer were interviewed and a semi-structured interview schedule was used to gather data. Some of the key findings for this study were the significance of community participation, care and support in the placement of HIV/AIDS orphans which guided the key components for sustainable community-based care for HIV/AIDS orphans. The study identified specific challenges in getting communities to participate in the care and support of HIV/AIDS orphans. The study made the following recommendations based on the research findings: -- The revision of policies and guidelines addressing children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. -- The drafting and implementation of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for community-based care for HIV/AIDS orphans. -- The Government’s involvement in pledging more resources for HIV/AIDS orphans. / Dissertation (MSD (Social Development and Policy))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and its impact on their identity development. The qualitative research paradigm was chosen for the purpose of this study. In depth interviews were held with three young adults who lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS when they were young. Hermeneutics thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study’s results identified different psychosocial issues associated with HIV/AIDS which were considered to be an influence in the lives of participants and their identity development. The results indicate that HIV/AIDS still has a strong and negative connotation which influenced the participants’ attitude and behaviour, including the development of their sense of identity. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and its impact on their identity development. The qualitative research paradigm was chosen for the purpose of this study. In depth interviews were held with three young adults who lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS when they were young. Hermeneutics thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study’s results identified different psychosocial issues associated with HIV/AIDS which were considered to be an influence in the lives of participants and their identity development. The results indicate that HIV/AIDS still has a strong and negative connotation which influenced the participants’ attitude and behaviour, including the development of their sense of identity. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)