Skinner Donald, Sharp Carla, Jooste Sean, Mfecane Sakhumzi, Simbayi Leickness
Research on Health and Society, Stellenbosch University.
Curationis. 2013 May 7;36(1):E1-8. doi: 10.4102/curationis.v36i1.105.
It is generally assumed that orphan status increases the risk to children of a range of negative outcomes. In South Africa, death of parents due to HIV-related illness is contributing to a rapid increase in the prevalence of orphans. This paper presents descriptive data from two South African communities, namely Kopanong, in the Free State and Kanana in the North West province, characterising the differences between orphans (double, maternal and paternal) and non-orphans on key criteria of social vulnerability.
The objective was to obtain a better understanding of how different types of orphans and non-orphans may differ in these key areas as a crucial starting point for addressing the devastating consequences the AIDS epidemic has on these children's lives. While the study focuses on two specific areas these will provide insight into the general situation of orphans in South Africa.
A cross-sectional census survey was conducted in the two communities of Kopanong, comprising n=5254 households and Kanana, comprising n=12,984 households.
In Kopanong, 8.2% of children had lost both parents, 19.1% had lost their father and 6.5% their mother only, whilst in Kanana the results were 6.5%, 28.1% and 3.7% respectively. Loss of both parents appeared to have a consistent impact on material need, including access to food, clothing and essential services, whilst loss of a single parent seems to have a more variable impact. At present, there are very few child headed households, but this constitutes a risk in the longer term.
Orphans appear to be more vulnerable in terms of material need. Children assessed in this study as being most in need were not accessing adequately many services directed at them. There is a need to extend understanding and measurement of emotional need and abuse.
人们普遍认为孤儿身份会增加儿童面临一系列负面后果的风险。在南非，父母因艾滋病相关疾病死亡导致孤儿患病率迅速上升。本文呈现了来自南非两个社区的描述性数据，这两个社区分别是自由邦的科帕农和西北省的卡纳纳，描述了孤儿（双亲孤儿、单亲孤儿中的母亲死亡孤儿和父亲死亡孤儿）与非孤儿在社会脆弱性关键标准上的差异。
目的是更好地了解不同类型的孤儿和非孤儿在这些关键领域可能存在的差异，这是应对艾滋病疫情对这些儿童生活造成的毁灭性后果的关键起点。虽然该研究聚焦于两个特定领域，但将为了解南非孤儿的总体情况提供洞见。
在科帕农的5254户家庭和卡纳纳的12984户家庭这两个社区进行了横断面普查。
在科帕农，8.2%的儿童失去了双亲，19.1%的儿童失去了父亲，6.5%的儿童仅失去了母亲；而在卡纳纳，相应比例分别为6.5%、28.1%和3.7%。失去双亲似乎对物质需求有持续影响，包括获得食物、衣物和基本服务，而失去单亲的影响似乎更具变数。目前，由儿童当家的家庭很少，但从长远来看这构成一种风险。
孤儿在物质需求方面似乎更脆弱。本研究中被评估为最有需求的儿童没有充分获得许多针对他们的服务。有必要加深对情感需求和虐待的理解与衡量。
