Displaying 1 - 10 of 31
Introduction:
The Orphans and Vulnerable Children's (OVC) crisis has raised the need for alternative solutions to OVC's problems. These new alternatives gave prominence to the growth of community-based organizations (CBOs) and their interventions. Community-based interventions are a crucial component of the response to make sure components of the response to ensure that the demands of OVCs are mitigated as they offer initial support and act as well-being nets.
Methods:
A qualitative exploratory-descriptive design was used to explore possible approaches to…
In Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), the increasing number of orphans and vulnerable children due to HIV/AIDS has spurred demand for psychosocial support services. When the Ministry of Education and Training assumed responsibility for delivering psychosocial support, educators were burdened with the additional role of looking after orphans and vulnerable learners.
This exploratory, sequential, mixed-methods study was employed to analyse factors that enhance the provision of psychosocial support services and the perceptions of educators towards psychosocial support delivery. The qualitative…
ABSTRACT
Objective: There is an urgent need to equip community-based careworkers with the skills to address the mental health needs of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as an essential response to shortages in human resources for mental health in Sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a quasi-experimental feasibility trial in South Africa to adapt and evaluate an established year-long semi-structured, manualized video-feedback caregiver intervention (the Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers; MISC) for community-based organizations (CBOs).
Methods…
Abstract: Orphaned learners in South Africa are vulnerable and frequently absent from school. These learners are often physically abused and may be stigmatized due to their state of homelessness, as a result potentially turning to substance use or abuse. This article focuses on the lived experiences of orphaned learners and their perspectives relating to the support offered by the School-Based Support Team (SBST) within schools, in two education districts of the Free State province, South Africa. Twenty-five orphaned learners from five schools in two education district (…
Abstract
The goal of this paper was to conduct a review of studies from 2008 to 2019 that evaluated community‐based caregiver or family interventions to support the mental health of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in sub‐Saharan Africa, across four domains: (a) study methodology, (b) cultural adaptation and community participation, (c) intervention strategies, and (d) effects on child mental health. Ten interventions were identified. Findings revealed that the majority of studies used a randomized controlled trial or quasi‐experimental design, but few conducted long‐term follow‐up;…
Abstract
Background
The emergence of a large population of orphaned youth in sub-Saharan Africa is due to the natural maturity of orphaned children. Research indicates that orphaned youth face more negative psychosocial challenges than their younger counterparts do. Furthermore, these challenges are intensified for early school leavers. This paper describes how experiencing maternal death affects the psychosocial wellbeing of orphaned youth who left school before completing high…
This qualitative research study explored the psycho-educational and social factors that contribute to anxiety in orphaned adolescent students in a secondary school in Welkom, Free State, South Africa. A multiple case-study design was used to collect data from eight adolescents (4 males and 4 females) aged between 11 and 14 years. The participants were purposefully selected from a mainstream secondary school in a suburban area in Welkom. Data collection through individual and semi-structured interviews was supplemented with collages and a focus group discussion with the participants. The…
Background
In South Africa, young women and girls are exposed to extremely high levels of gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV infection. Given the links between the two epidemics, it is important that HIV prevention programmes also address violence against women and children. The Global Fund’s Young Women and Girls (YWG) programme is a multi-pronged HIV prevention programme targeting young women and girls and was implemented in 10 districts in South Africa from April 2016 to March 2019. This briefing paper reports on the lessons learnt from a process evaluation of the child protection…
Abstract
Children orphaned by AIDS continue to display lower levels of psychosocial well-being. While HIV-related stigma has been identified as a risk factor for healthy psychosocial development, there remains an inadequate understanding of orphaned children’s experiences and perceptions of HIV-related stigma and its impact on their psychosocial well-being. This study explored children orphaned by AIDS perceptions and experiences of HIV-related stigma and how it has affected their psychosocial well-being. This study used a qualitative exploratory descriptive design. Thirteen participants…
Abstract
Music therapy is a valuable tool for working with vulnerable children who have experienced trauma and neglect, working intimately to draw out their playfulness and resilience, and create an experience of a safe and trusting relationship. In South Africa, with its overburdened social welfare systems and under-resourced communities who remain affected by poverty and unemployment, there is limited access to medical and psychological services. The South African foster care system aims to provide safety and security for vulnerable and at-risk children and youth, but it is often…