Community-based mental health support for orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa: a triangulation study

Abstract

Community-based care is receiving increasing global attention as a way to support children who are orphaned or vulnerable due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Using both qualitative and quantitative methodology, this study assesses community-based responses to the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and compares these responses with the actual mental health of OVC in order to evaluate the South African government’s approach of funding community-based organisations (CBOs) that support and care for OVC. The study results show that the activities of CBOs mainly extend government services and address poverty. Although this should not be seen as insignificant, the paper argues that CBOs give very little attention to the mental health of OVC.

Keywords:

• community-based care
• mental health
• orphans and vulnerable children
• community-based organisations

Notes

^1. The current study was approved by the IRB boards at the University of the Free State, the University of Stellenbosch and the University of Houston.

^2. At the time of resubmission in June 2013, 1USD = R10.00.