Views and attitudes of members of the Mamelodi community regarding the care and support of orphans: findings of a survey and a series of in-depth interviews

Abstract

Institutional care was one of the more important ways which care and support was provided to orphaned children for a considerable period of time. That was in addition to placing orphans in the care of foster homes or finding parents willing to adopt them. During the past decade, the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has made its mark on our society in a number of ways and this epidemic is also having an effect on how to care for orphans. Potentially, one of the most severe impacts of the epidemic is the rise in the number of children left orphaned as a result of the premature death of their parent's) due to AIDS-related causes. Population projects, taking into account the impact of HIV/Aids estimate that within 10 years up to 14% of children under the age of fifteen could be maternal orphans in South Africa. This will have a profound impact on how society will care and support orphans and other children left vulnerable in the wake of the epidemic.