‘Telling the truth is the best thing’: Teenage orphans’ experiences of parental AIDS-related illness and bereavement in Zimbabwe

A Developmental Psychopathology Framework of the Psychosocial Needs of Children Orphaned by HIV

“…AIDS orphans may be affected by stigma in several ways. First, stigma may cause anxiety and fear related to the disclosure of their parents' illnesses and consequently reduce children's abilities to express grief (Siegel & Gorey, 1994;Wood, Chase, & Aggleton, 2006). Second, AIDS orphans are often the victims of discrimination (e.g., denied schooling), which results in a greater secondary loss for AIDS orphans than for other orphans.…”

The Role of Hospice Caregivers in Caring for Families Infected With, or Affected By, Hiv/Aids

“…Children often experience compromised parenting and witness debilitating illness (Wood, Chase & Aggleton, 2006:1924. The caregiver, who has built up a good relationship with the family, would be able to come alongside the children to support them, answer their questions, teach them skills and help them build their resilience.…”

“…Some orphans experience distress by not having any momentous or tangible reminders of their lives with their parents. This results in an extreme sense of loss (Wood et al, 2006(Wood et al, :1925.…”

Social Support Disparities among Children affected by HIV/AIDS in Ghana

“…Delva and colleagues also confirmed the sparse social network of friends and low social support from the family for AIDS orphans in Guinea [5]. Social support is located within local cultural and social contexts, and is often impacted by education, church activities, extended family and community members [21,[32][33][34]. Children who receive adequate support from family, peers and others adapt well psychosocially while those who do not become depressed, lonely and withdrawn [35].…”

“…The social support system is usually sustained by family relatives, neighbours and friends. In high prevalence and matured HIV/AIDS endemic countries like those in Southern African countries, HIV/ AIDS multiple losses such as the death of parents, siblings, relatives and neighbours [21] may overwhelm the traditional support system provided by extended family members and other established supportive environments of community networks [22]. It is no surprise that some researchers suggested that the traditional support system is collapsing in such regions because of the HIV/AIDS crises [23][24][25][26].…”