Coping: A challenge for guardians of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in a South African township

Edith Kiggundu, Wilna Oldewage-Theron

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

The main objective of this study, part of an investigation into the health of guardians of HIV/AIDS orphans, was to explore the guardians' coping mechanisms. Previous research has shown that there is a relationship between the use of social support networks and the guardians' ability to cope with the challenges of caring for HIV/AIDS orphans. Data were collected by means of a socio-demographic questionnaire and individual semi-structured interviews with guardians who attend a support group organised by a non-governmental organisation in Alexandra, the oldest township in Gauteng and a very poor area of South Africa. The article concludes that harnessing social support networks is an effective strategy that could help guardians cope with the challenges of caring for HIV/AIDS orphans.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)383-397
Number of pages15
JournalDevelopment Southern Africa
Volume26
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2009

Keywords

  • Coping mechanisms
  • Guardians
  • HIV/AIDS orphans
  • Social support networks

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