Evaluation of psychological programmes for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in South Africa
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Date
2005
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Abstract
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.
Description
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.
Keywords
HIV/AIDS -- Orphans, Orphans -- psychosocial needs