Care of children affected and infected by HIV/ AIDS at Khayelihle Childrens Home, Cato Ridge, South Africa
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Date
2004
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Abstract
In this study the researcher investigated care of children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS at Khayelihle Children's Home. The principal aim of the study was to offer a diagnostic, evaluative assessment of the care for children at Khayelihle Children's Home.
Survey methodology was adopted for this research- Stratified sampling technique was used in selecting a sample of the respondents to participate in the study. Three strata of: children: aunts/grandmothers: and the international volunteers were selected from the total population at Khayelihle children's home. Sixty people drawn from the stratas participated in the study.
Data was collected by use of structured interviews. Documentary sources and observations were utilised as complementary methods to data collection. Data collected was analysed using descriptive analysis. Tables and pie - charts were used to enter specific types of data and show-relationships between variables.
The findings from the study indicated that the care of children at Khayelihle Children's Hume was not effective. Several reasons are advanced for this phenomenon. These include: inability to protect children from exploitation, abuse, and neglect: inability of fostering the development of a close and secure relationship with caregiver- as well as allowing a close relationship with the remaining family members. Other reasons include: little emphasis in helping children understand the imminent death of a parent: their identity; uniqueness and a sense of personal continuity especially in the maintenance of a close link with the cultural community: and failure in encouraging children expression of emotions a prerequisite for psychosocial development.
It was concluded that the care for children at Khayelihle children's needed to promote psychosocial development and resilience in children for them to be able to deal with the imminent challenges of life as orphans in the face of HIWAIDS epidemic.
The study recommends that, the care (or children at Khayelihle should put in perspective the underlying values advocated by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which should serve as a constant reference for die implementing and monitoring all efforts to care, promote, fulfil and protect children's right-.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Community Work; in the Departmnet of Social Work, 2004.
Keywords
HIV/Aids