Thesis (MPH)--University of Limpopo,2011. / BACKGROUND In an era of HIV/AIDS many children are growing up without parents. In rural Hlabisa District, KwaZulu Natal the rate of orphanhood has increased with HIV prevalence rates. Orphanhood increases with age and peaks at the adolescent range of 15-18 years. 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This has led many to be in a vulnerable position and their very livelihood threatened. OBJECTIVES To determine the age-sex distribution of adolescent orphans to non-orphan adolescents and to compare their education level and drop-out from school; sexuality and pregnancy; socio-economic, employment and emigration; dependence on government grants and to determine the health of both groups especially their HIV status. METHODS A Cross-Sectional Data Analysis Design using data from a longitudinal surveillance system of Africa Centre Demographic Information System in Hlabisa was made available. Use of regression analysis was done to investigate the relative risk to pregnancy, drop-out of school, living in poorer households, migration and HIV infection of orphans relative to non-orphans in adolescents, aged 15-18 years. 15 RESULTS In 2006, the year of study, there were 8609 adolescents (aged 15-18 years) who constituted 22.87% of all children (0-18 years). The overall orphanhood prevalence was 10.37%. In the orphanhood group, the prevalence increased significantly with age peaking around 16 years. 45.24% were orphans in the group of study (15-18 years). Paternal orphans were highest, followed by dual and then maternal. Majority of all adolescents acquired Grade 9 education but there was a gradual drop in attaining higher education from Grade 10 to 12 with fewer orphans reaching matriculation to non-orphans (4.22% and 5.32% respectively). Majority of adolescents left school and did nothing (56.39% among orphans and 53.3% among non-orphans). Pregnancy accounted for a significant drop-out of school among adolescent females (12.71% non-orphans, 10.27% orphans). Adolescent orphans were more likely to have ever had sex while there was no statistical difference in the odds of ever being pregnant (female only) and fathering a child (male only). Orphans were poorer and out-migrated. Orphans had a higher prevalence of HIV infection and perceived their general health was poor. 4.53% of adolescent orphans were assessing government grants than non-orphans (1.16%). CONCLUSION Orphan adolescents lived in significantly different socio-economic circumstances than non-orphaned adolescents. The high percentage of adolescent orphans in the study group poses a significant public health problem. Being an orphan is associated with increased vulnerability to lack of support. Intervention programmes to improve the plight of orphans needs government and community commitment.

The purpose of the study was to explore and understand how orphaned adolescents in grandparent-headed households achieve healthy functioning and how they rise above unfavourable circumstances. In exploring and gaining understanding, the research was approached from an interpertivist stance as it entails an inductive qualitative enquiry suitable to gaining a better understanding of the experiences and perceptions of orphaned adolescents. A qualitative methodological design was followed to ensure that the research questions could be answered. Purposive sample selection was used to select participants for this research study. The sample included nine adolescent orphans who reside in grandparent-headed households and are affiliated with Stanza Bopape Community Centre. Data collection included biographical questions, focus group interview and semi-structured interviews. Five of the nine participants took part in a focus group interview and the remaining four participated in individual semi-structured interviews. All interviews were conducted and transcribed by the researcher. Inductive thematic analyses was utilised to identify themes which emerged from the data. The themes which emerged were: the person I am, the supportive roles in parenting, role models in my life, things that are important to me, the future in me. These themes reflect the factors which contribute to the participants’ resilience and can be deduced as the mediating factors which assist them in achieving healthy functioning. The risks identified are aligned with residing in a township and attending a township school, however these risks were not experienced as demotivating adversities for the participants. They rather viewed them as motivating factors to achieve a better future. Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological theory served as the theoretical foundation for the study and it emerged that factors which contribute to the orphaned adolescents’ resilience (maintaining factors) come from various systems. Based on the findings of the study it can be concluded that orphaned adolescents residing in grandparent-headed households, although generally of low socio-economic status, are aware of their challenges and utilise certain processes to strengthen their resilience and overcome their challenges. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted