Townsend Loraine, Dawes Andy
Afr J AIDS Res. 2004 May;3(1):69-80. doi: 10.2989/16085900409490320.
There is substantial evidence to indicate that South Africa is facing the prospect of a large number of children, now and in the future, who will be orphaned as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Following the incapacitation and/or death of their parents, many of these children will be cared for by the safety net provided by members of their extended families. However, there is evidence to suggest that this safety net is fast becoming overwhelmed and possibly reaching saturation point. The ideal would be for as many of these children as possible to experience some type of family life in which to grow and mature into responsible adults. The present study explores adoptive and foster parents' (n = 175) willingness to care for a child orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Although some differences were noted depending on the HIV status of the child and whether the respondent was an adoptive or foster parent, results indicate an overall willingness in these populations to care for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The evidence also suggests that HIV-negative female orphans who are younger than 6 years, and who are family members, or from the same cultural background as the potential caregivers and do not have surviving relatives or siblings, have the best chance of being taken into foster or adoptive care.
有大量证据表明，南非现在以及未来都面临着大量儿童因艾滋病毒/艾滋病大流行而成为孤儿的前景。在其父母丧失行为能力和/或死亡后，这些儿童中的许多将由其大家庭成员提供的安全网照顾。然而，有证据表明，这个安全网正迅速不堪重负，可能已达到饱和点。理想的情况是，尽可能多的这些儿童能够体验某种家庭生活，在其中成长并成熟为有责任感的成年人。本研究探讨了收养父母和寄养父母（n = 175）照顾因艾滋病毒/艾滋病而成为孤儿的儿童的意愿。尽管根据儿童的艾滋病毒状况以及受访者是收养父母还是寄养父母存在一些差异，但结果表明这些人群总体上愿意照顾因艾滋病毒/艾滋病而成为孤儿的儿童。证据还表明，6岁以下、艾滋病毒检测呈阴性、是家庭成员、与潜在照顾者来自相同文化背景且没有在世亲属或兄弟姐妹的女性孤儿，被送入寄养或收养机构的机会最大。
