Displaying 1 - 9 of 9
Abstract
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Botswana is at a time of economic uncertainty which is linked to increased child sexual abuse. Although Botswana is among the least hit by COVID-19 in Africa, evidence from Botswana police suggests that the government’s move to apply strict measures such as lockdown, extreme social distancing and movement restriction has led to an increase in the number of child sexual abuse cases in Botswana. Evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on children needs urgent attention. This calls for a clear road map on the prevention and response of the child protection…
Abstract
Children's needs in Botswana received considerable attention in the past three decades owing to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country. These decades of legal and policy practice processes focused on orphan and vulnerable children (OVC), ensured that the needs of the general population of Botswana children are grossly understudied, underestimated, and therefore, remain unaddressed. This study sought to determine the needs of the general population of children. Fifty-two visual arts, six semi-structured interviews, twenty-six in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were…
ABSTRACT
The study determined the perceived effects of prolonged residential care for children in Botswana. The study adopted qualitative descriptive research design. Data was collected through focus group discussions and face-to-face in-depth interviews from purposefully selected participants, based on their experience in child welfare and interactions with the children under study. The study obtained ethical clearance from the University of Botswana Institutional Review Board, and a research permit was acquired from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. Informed consent…
Abstract
Family constitutes more than simple living arrangements, and these systems are of pivotal development importance in sub-Saharan Africa. The diversity of family structures and types in sub-Saharan Africa has warranted an examination of the various policies and laws in the region. This paper examines all policy and laws related to families in the South, West, East and Central regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The paper highlights the sundry of policies and laws that are influenced by cultural and religious differences within and across regions. Issues relating to patriarchy and…
Abstract
Globalization of knowledge and scholarship raises the challenges of dialogue between Global North and South. Northern knowledge and voice remain privileged, while writing from the South often goes unread. This is true also in emerging adulthood and care-leaving scholarship. The special issue of Emerging Adulthood titled “Care-Leaving in Africa” is the first collection of essays on care-leaving by African scholars. It presents both care-leaving and emerging adulthood scholars from the Global North a unique opportunity to consider the implications of a rising…
Abstract
Background
Contextually relevant interventions are needed to support the well-being of at-risk adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, the large number of children who have been orphaned, such as by HIV/AIDS, are in need of interventions to foster their resilience.
Objective
The goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the Balekane EARTH program, a 2-week wilderness-based therapeutic intervention in Botswana for children who have been orphaned.
Method
A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was used. At program entry and again at…
Abstract
This study sought to investigate the lived experiences of care leavers from institutional care facility in Botswana. The study objectives were to explore the challenges faced by children after leaving the institutional care and to identify services that can be offered to them in preparation for life in a society in general. The study adopted a cross-sectional qualitative research approach, and data were collected through in-depth interviews that were qualitatively analysed. Thirty participants was sampled, and there were divided into 2 sections comprising care leavers and key…
Families play central roles in the HIV/AIDS pandemic, caring for both orphaned children and the ill. This extra caregiving depletes two family resources essential for supporting children: time and money. We use recent data from published studies in sub-Saharan Africa to illustrate deficits and document community responses. In
Botswana, parents caring for the chronically ill had less time for their preschool children (74 versus 96 hours per month) and were almost twice as likely to leave children home alone (53% versus 27%); these children experienced greater health and…
As a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, there are now more than 12 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of these children have been absorbed into their extended families. A minority of AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children are living in residential care facilities. Although concerns have been raised regarding the care received in such facilities, very little is known about children's perspectives on their own experiences residing in these institutions.
As part of an ongoing initiative to better understand the impact of HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa and what can be done to…