Psychological distress amongst Aids‐orphaned children in urban South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID23320366
AuthorsLucie D Cluver (0000-0002-0418-835X, Oxford Policy Management, corresponding author), Lucie Cluver, Frances Gardner (0000-0001-7508-7348, Oxford Policy Management), Don Operario (0000-0003-2467-5048, Oxford Policy Management)
Year2007
Volume48
Issue8
Pages755-763
Publication date2007-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9630 • E-ISSN: 1469-7610
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01757.x
PMID17683447
OpenAlexW2026566221
LanguageEN
Citations received133
References cited41

Background: South Africa is predicted to have 2.3 million children orphaned by Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) by 2020 (). There is little knowledge about impacts of AIDS‐related bereavement on children, to aid planning of services. This study aimed to investigate psychological consequences of AIDS orphanhood in urban township areas of Cape Town, South Africa, compared to control groups of children and adolescents orphaned by other causes, and non‐orphans. Method: One thousand and twenty‐five children and adolescents (aged 10–19) were interviewed using socio‐demographic questionnaires and standardised scales for assessing depression, anxiety, post‐traumatic stress, peer problems, delinquency and conduct problems. Results: Controlling for socio‐demographic factors such as age, gender, formal/informal dwelling and age at orphanhood, children orphaned by AIDS were more likely to report symptoms of depression, peer relationship problems, post‐traumatic stress, delinquency and conduct problems than both children orphaned by other causes and non‐orphaned children. Anxiety showed no differences. AIDS‐orphaned children were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Compared to Western norms, AIDS‐orphaned children showed higher levels of internalising problems and delinquency, but lower levels of conduct problems. Conclusions: Children orphaned by AIDS may be a particularly vulnerable group in terms of emotional and, to a lesser extent, behavioural problems. Intervention programs are necessary to ameliorate the psychological sequelae of losing a parent to AIDS.

Anxiety · Depression (economics) · Distress · Environmental health · Juvenile delinquency · Poison control · Psychiatry · Suicidal ideation · Suicide prevention · Child Welfare and Adoption · Clinical Psychology · Family Support in Illness · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology

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