Caring for AIDS-orphaned children: an exploratory study of challenges faced by carers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Fifteen million children have been orphaned because of AIDS and these numbers are expected to grow in the coming decade. Individuals providing noninstitutional care for AIDS-orphaned children play a critical role in the capacity of communities to respond to the epidemic. However, a limited body of evidence exists on these carers. Studies are urgently needed to build the evidence base on this population, particularly in South Africa which has the largest population of people living with HIV globally. An exploratory qualitative study with carers of AIDS-orphaned children and informants from nongovernmental organizations in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, South Africa, was conducted to (1) explore challenges associated with caring for AIDS-orphaned children and (2) identify areas for more detailed quantitative studies. Findings from this study contribute to a better understanding of AIDS-related impacts on the family by specifically identifying challenges associated with care for AIDS-orphaned children in South Africa.

Keywords:

• HIV and AIDS
• qualitative
• care
• orphan
• South Africa

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Award Number F31MH081820 from the National Institute of Mental Health to Caroline Kuo. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Mental Health or the National Institutes of Health. This research was also supported in part by the Leverhulme Trust Grant F08‐599C to Don Operario.

Notes

1. Peri-urban and rural focus groups were over-attended. Rather than turn-away participants, the research team randomly divided participants into small and more manageable focus groups held concurrently, facilitated by Caroline Kuo and research assistants.