Nyasani Evalyne, Sterberg Erna, Smith Helen
a Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine , Pembroke Place , Liverpool , L3 5QA , United Kingdom.
Afr J AIDS Res. 2009 Jun;8(2):181-92. doi: 10.2989/AJAR.2009.8.2.6.858.
Grandparents are increasingly becoming the primary carers of children orphaned by the HIV epidemic in South Africa. Traditional family roles are being reversed as aging family members take responsibility for the physical and psychosocial needs of children. This study uses qualitative research to explore the experiences of grandparents fostering children orphaned by AIDS in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The idea was born after a local HIV support organisation (Richards Bay Family Care) observed a trend within their organisation of grandparents increasingly becoming foster parents for orphans. An exploratory study was conducted in the organisation's three target areas (two rural villages and urban Richards Bay); the ultimate aim was to explore options for improving financial and emotional support for this group. The qualitative research methods included: four focus group discussions with foster-carers and community leaders (including two pocket-chart voting exercises); 12 in-depth interviews with grandparent foster-carers; and ten key-informant interviews, mostly with staff who provide support services. Data analysis was by thematic framework. The needs of the grandparent fostercarers varied: the rural participants were essentially concerned with meeting children's basic needs (housing, food and education), while those in urban areas more often felt pressure to provide emotional and psychological support for orphans. In both groups, women were at the forefront of foster care. Important problems identified by the grandparents were child discipline and a feeling of disharmony in the intergenerational relationship. Government foster care grants were identified as a regular source of income for especially the rural foster-carers. The findings may help programme managers better understand the differences in the needs of urban and rural foster parents. The experiences of grandparents as carers of orphans affected by HIV or AIDS are unique considering their age, frailty and poverty status. More research is needed on the role played by men in fostering children orphaned by AIDS.
在南非，祖父母越来越多地成为因艾滋病疫情而成为孤儿的孩子的主要照顾者。随着年迈的家庭成员承担起孩子的生理和心理社会需求的责任，传统的家庭角色正在发生逆转。本研究采用定性研究方法，探索南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省理查兹湾地区祖父母抚养因艾滋病成为孤儿的孩子的经历。这个想法源于当地一个艾滋病毒支持组织（理查兹湾家庭关爱组织）观察到其组织内祖父母越来越多地成为孤儿养父母的趋势。在该组织的三个目标地区（两个乡村和城市理查兹湾）进行了一项探索性研究；最终目的是探索改善对这一群体的经济和情感支持的选项。定性研究方法包括：与寄养照顾者和社区领袖进行四次焦点小组讨论（包括两次袖珍图表投票活动）；对祖父母寄养照顾者进行12次深入访谈；以及十次关键 informant 访谈，主要对象是提供支持服务的工作人员。数据分析采用主题框架法。祖父母寄养照顾者的需求各不相同：农村参与者主要关心满足孩子的基本需求（住房、食物和教育），而城市地区的人则更多地感到有压力为孤儿提供情感和心理支持。在这两个群体中，女性在寄养照顾中处于前沿位置。祖父母们指出的重要问题包括儿童管教和代际关系中的不和谐感。政府的寄养照顾补助金被确定为特别是农村寄养照顾者的固定收入来源。这些发现可能有助于项目管理人员更好地理解城乡寄养父母需求的差异。考虑到祖父母的年龄、体弱和贫困状况，他们作为受艾滋病毒或艾滋病影响的孤儿的照顾者的经历是独特的。需要更多关于男性在抚养因艾滋病成为孤儿的孩子方面所起作用的研究。
