Abstract
M.A. (Community Development)
The statistics on HIV/Aids in this study overwhelm the imagination. It has great
social and economical consequences for individuals, families and communities.
The generation of between 15-24 years are vulnerable to infection especially
women. From the population of about 46 million in South Africa, 5.7 million were
HIV positive by the end of 2007 with about 1000 deaths every day. Sub-Saharan
Africa appeared to be the most hit by this tragedy as indicated by statistics in this
study. When parents die of Aids, the burden of orphaned children is left with
relatives and extended families to look after those children. The number of
orphans is escalating due to increasing death rate of parents. A detailed
discussion on the extended families which includes their origin, roles they play as
well as challenges they face in caring for orphaned children is included as well.
Challenges include having to deal with grief and changing behaviour of the
orphaned children.
The goal of this study was to conduct an analysis of extended families affected
by HIV/Aids taking care of orphans, living in the Kyasands informal settlement in
order to improve service delivery. The main objectives of the study included
exploring the needs of these extended families caring for orphaned children in
terms of social, emotional and material aspects as well as challenges they face
and how they manage to survive. A qualitative method was used in conducting
this study with the use of semi-structured interviews to collect information. The
main central question asked was, how do you manage to live with an additional
member within your family.
The main findings in this study were reported which included the strength and
composition of assets and the extended families’ resources to make a living and
adjust to shocks of life. Family was seen as the most trusted asset in this study
by the respondents. Just to mention a few, most of the families owned shacks,
battery operated radios and televisions since they live in formal settlement
without any permanent infrastructures.