Predicting the social consequences of orphanhood in South Africa

Bray, Rachel

doi:10.2989/16085906.2003.9626558

Cited by 76 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…It suggests that within Young Lives' sample the short or medium term impact of orphanhood on schooling, health and subjective wellbeing may be overstated. This supports the position of Bray (2003) and Meintjes and Giese (2006), both writing in the context of South Africa that in situations of widespread vulnerability the distinction between orphan and non-orphan is overdrawn. Richter (2008: 7) concurs, arguing that even the term 'AIDS orphan' causes confusion as The UNAIDS definition of an orphan-a child under 18 who has lost one or both parents (UNAIDS et al 2004) does not accord with common-sense meanings in different cultures.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 68%

“…High adult mortality combines with poverty as 39% of the population live below $1.25 per day (HDR 2009). In this setting, deWaal et al 's (2009) call to avoid treating 'Orphans and Vulnerable Children' (OVCs) as a homogenous and exceptional category, and respond to the needs of specific groups and to vulnerability at a societal level has particular salience (see also Bray 2003;Meintjes and Giese 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Outcomes of Orphanhood in Ethiopia: A Mixed Methods Study

Camfield

2010

Soc Indic Res

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The paper addresses the question of whether parental death always has a strongly negative effect on children's outcomes using quantitative and qualitative data from Young Lives, a longitudinal study of childhood poverty in Ethiopia. It investigates the validity of potential mediating factors identified by other studies in Sub-Saharan Africa using data from the whole sample (n = 973) and explores these processes in-depth through the experiences of three orphans in one community in Addis Ababa. The paper concludes that the outcomes of orphans and non-orphans in poor communities are not significantly different, supporting the need to address vulnerability at a societal level. Nonetheless, specific groups, for example, older female children who have lost their mothers, may face particular risks that should be addressed with targeted interventions.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outcomes of Orphanhood in Ethiopia: A Mixed Methods Study

Camfield

2010

Soc Indic Res

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“…While the HIV/AIDS epidemic may have exacerbated the situation, it is important to note that care for relatives' children by grandparents and other members of the extended family long predates the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As elsewhere, deaths of natural parents due to disease or war have, at various points in history, brought sudden large increases in the orphan population (Bray, 2003;Illife, 2006). Extended families have absorbed and cared for those orphaned in the past (Lund, 2006).…”

Section: Extended Family Care For Orphansmentioning

confidence: 99%

The quality of material care provided by grandparents for their orphaned grandchildren in the context of HIV/AIDS and poverty: a study of Kopanong municipality, Free State

Tamasane

Head

2010

SAHARA-J: Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS

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A pervasive argument in the literature on AIDS orphans in South Africa is that grandparents, who often care for their orphaned grandchildren, lack the material means to provide adequate care. This study investigated that claim in an area of ubiquitous poverty and very high unemployment. It is based on the analysis of data obtained from two surveys carried out by the HSRC in the semi-rural municipality of Kopanong in the Free State. The first study was a census which targeted the whole population. The second, smaller survey sampled households which accommodated orphaned and vulnerable children. Based on four proxy indicators for material care: possession of birth certificates, uptake of welfare grants, levels of school attendance, and the number of meals consumed daily, the study revealed that there was very little difference in the quality of care provided by grandparents and other carers, including biological parents. Indeed, since the old age pension is much higher than the child support grant and the foster care grant it may be that grandparents who are pensioners generally have higher incomes than most other adults. In line with the findings of other research, the study found that poverty is a major problem confronting all carers in the area. It concludes that interventions that primarily target orphans overlook the material needs of all poor children. It therefore joins the calls of other researchers for greater state support for all poor children, irrespective of whether they are orphans and who their carers are.

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“…Agencies such as UNAIDS point to the rapidly rising numbers of AIDS orphans, and suggest that 'the extended family and the willing community can never fully cope with the numbers' 7 . In this view, the historical division between family and state is breaking down, as the former cannot cope with new demands and pressures (but see Bray, 2003).…”

Section: The Challenge: Unemployment and Poor Health In A Post-agrarimentioning

confidence: 99%