scholarly journals A situational analysis of child-headed households in South Africa

Curationis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Mogotlane ◽  
M. E. Chauke ◽  
G. H. Van Rensburg ◽  
S. P. Human ◽  
C. M. Kganakga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Situational Analysis ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Orphans And Vulnerable Children ◽  
Aids Pandemic ◽  
Care And Support

The aftermath of the HIV and AIDS pandemic has resulted in great suffering in terms of loss of income, poor quality of life, morbidity and mortality, with children being destitute and orphaned at an alarming rapid rate. Families and communities are currently unable to cope with the effects of HIV and AIDS with special emphasis on the care and support of the affected orphans and vulnerable children, who as a result have been compelled to look after themselves giving rise to a new type of family, the child-headed household. The emergence of this type of family requires government’s response in terms of care and support. The purpose of this study was to provide a broad picture of the location, prevalence, composition, functions, needs and challenges of child-headed households in South Africa, and explore available and required services, resources and safety nets for children in child-headed households. An exploratory and descriptive design was used for the purpose. The sample consisted of children heading households and those living in the households that are headed by children; government departments responsible for child welfare, such as, the Departments of Social Development, Health, Education and Agriculture; non-profit organisations and communities where these households are predominant. From the data collected, it was found that the rights of the affected children were compromised. Those heading the households were often not at school and were responsible for domestic chores. The households needed food, clothes, money, shelter, and education. Government in attempting to address these needs required clear policies which will provide a distinction between orphaned and vulnerable children and child-headed households.The study recommended a collaborative approach as it was shown that there was no single model of best practice to appropriately and effectively address the needs of child-headed households.

scholarly journals Involving youth in the care and support of people affected by HIV and AIDS

2003 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Intervention Study ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Protective Behaviors ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Orphans And Vulnerable Children ◽  
Care And Support ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Young people in Zambia who were trained to provide care and support to individuals and families affected by AIDS have proven to be a vital resource to their communities. In a country where adult HIV prevalence is 13 percent among males and 18 percent among females, communities are seeking new ways of helping those infected and affected by the disease. As the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA) and orphans and vulnerable children continue to escalate, results from an intervention study by the Horizons Program, in partnership with Care International and Family Health Trust, provide a promising picture of young peoples’ potential to contribute to community-based care and support activities. The study also indicates that involving young people in the care and support of persons affected by HIV and AIDS may have a positive effect on their adoption of protective behaviors. As noted in this brief, this quasi-experimental intervention study sought to determine which care and support needs of PLHA and their families can be met by trained youth and to establish whether youth engaged in formalized care and support activities would increase their adoption of protective behaviors.

scholarly journals Care and Support Programmes for Orphans and Vulnerable Children: Achievements and Implications of HIV/AIDS Funded Project in Osun State, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 195-213
Author(s):  
Adebola A. Adejimi ◽  
Ajibola Olagunoye ◽  
Adeyemi Amuda ◽  
Olubukola Alawale ◽  
Oluwatoyin Adeola-Musa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Orphans And Vulnerable Children ◽  
Care And Support ◽  
Funded Project ◽  
Support Programmes ◽  
Hiv Aids

scholarly journals Challenges faced by households in caring for orphans and vulnerable children

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Orphans And Vulnerable Children ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
Nelson Mandela ◽  
To Come ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Hiv Aids

South Africa has seen a rapid increase in HIV prevalence among the general population over the past ten years, from less than 1 percent in 1990 to 20 percent in 2001. As the HIV/AIDS epidemic increases, so do the number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). In 2002, an estimated five million people were living with HIV/AIDS. Because of the average 10-year period between infection and death, even if HIV prevalence declined rapidly, South Africa would still experience an increasing orphan burden for many years to come. By 2010, 16 percent of all children in South Africa will be orphans with more than 70 percent due to AIDS. The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund initiated the Goelama Project, which uses a community mobilization strategy to catalyze action by local organizations and government bodies to prevent HIV infection and mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of the disease, particularly as they affect OVC. This brief highlights key findings from a study of 29,000 members of nearly 5,000 households in eight study sites to identify ways that government and communities can strengthen the socioeconomic capacity of households to care for and support OVC.

THE CHALLENGES AND COPING RESOURCES OF YOUTH HEADING HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-48
Author(s):  
Petro Botha
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Separate Group ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Contextual Design ◽  
Aids Pandemic ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
And Coping

There is a large number of youth-headed households in South Africa. This is linked to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country. Various studies have been undertaken on child-headed households, but there is a lack of research on the personal experiences of youth heading households. The assumption has been made that youth are older and able to cope with their situation. Youth heading households have not been defined as a separate group, but have been included in Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth (OVCY). The aim of this study is to gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges and coping resources of youth heading households. A qualitative approach and a descriptive and contextual design were used. It is important that governments and NGOs clearly define a youthheaded household and include youth heading households in research evaluating current services to OVCY, and that they plan services focusing specifically on the needs of this group.

scholarly journals Quality Visual Drop-in centres as a community response

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sithabile Ntombela
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Barriers To Learning ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Aids Pandemic ◽  
Care And Support ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hiv Aids

School going children have a broad range of needs at any given point in time. If these needs are not met, they may experience barriers to learning and development, which can result in the breakdown of the learning process or even total exclusion. Barriers to learning and development affect learners differently, but nothing threatens their development and quality of life in the same way as the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Young children, because of their dependence on others, are likely to suffer developmental, educational, emotional and physical setbacks, due to the impact of the pandemic. For many, the impact is so great that their access to schooling is threatened as they (and their siblings) struggle to survive. This article discusses literature on how HIV/AIDS intensifies poverty, while in the process marginalising affected and infected children; and it is also concerned with how communities can respond to the needs of these vulnerable children. Particular attention is paid to dropin centres as a sustainable response to the challenges young children face in KwaZulu- Natal. The article concludes that the drop-in centre scheme is a desirable model of care as it employs an environmentally friendly approach that relies on inter-sectoral collaboration to provide care and support for children in need.

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