Persisting mental health problems among AIDS-orphaned children in South Africa
Background: By 2008, 12 million children in sub-Saharan Africa were orphaned by AIDS. Cross-sectional studies show psychological problems for AIDS-orphaned children, but until now no longitudinal study has explored enduring psychological effects of AIDS-orphanhood in the developing world. Methods: A...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
2012
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33273 |
| _version_ | 1848753899401379840 |
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| author | Cluver, L. Orkin, M. Gardner, F. Boyes, Mark |
| author_facet | Cluver, L. Orkin, M. Gardner, F. Boyes, Mark |
| author_sort | Cluver, L. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: By 2008, 12 million children in sub-Saharan Africa were orphaned by AIDS. Cross-sectional studies show psychological problems for AIDS-orphaned children, but until now no longitudinal study has explored enduring psychological effects of AIDS-orphanhood in the developing world. Methods: A 4-year longitudinal follow-up of AIDS-orphaned children with control groups of other orphans and non-orphans. 1021 children (M = 13.4 years, 50% female, 98% isiXhosa-speaking) were interviewed in 2005 and followed up in 2009 with 71% retention (49% female, M = 16.9 years), in poor urban South African settlements. Children were interviewed using sociodemographic questionnaires and well-validated standardised scales for assessing depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Data were analysed using mixed-design ANOVA and backward-stepping regression. Results: AIDS-orphaned children showed higher depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scores in both 2005 and 2009 when compared with other-orphans and non-orphans. Backward-stepping regression, controlling for baseline mental health, and sociodemographic cofactors such as age, gender, and type of bereavement, revealed that being AIDS-orphaned in 2005 was associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores in 2009. This was not the case for other-orphaned or non-orphaned children. Age interacted with orphan status, such that there was a steep rise in psychological distress in the AIDS-orphaned group, but no rise with age amongst other-orphans and non-orphans. Conclusions: Negative mental health outcomes amongst AIDS-orphaned children are maintained and worsen over a 4-year period. It is important that psychosocial support programmes are sustained, and focus on youth as well as young children. |
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| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-33273 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
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| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:31:51Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
| recordtype | eprints |
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| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-332732017-09-13T15:31:39Z Persisting mental health problems among AIDS-orphaned children in South Africa Cluver, L. Orkin, M. Gardner, F. Boyes, Mark HIV/AIDS orphans anxiety adolescents depression post-traumatic stress Background: By 2008, 12 million children in sub-Saharan Africa were orphaned by AIDS. Cross-sectional studies show psychological problems for AIDS-orphaned children, but until now no longitudinal study has explored enduring psychological effects of AIDS-orphanhood in the developing world. Methods: A 4-year longitudinal follow-up of AIDS-orphaned children with control groups of other orphans and non-orphans. 1021 children (M = 13.4 years, 50% female, 98% isiXhosa-speaking) were interviewed in 2005 and followed up in 2009 with 71% retention (49% female, M = 16.9 years), in poor urban South African settlements. Children were interviewed using sociodemographic questionnaires and well-validated standardised scales for assessing depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Data were analysed using mixed-design ANOVA and backward-stepping regression. Results: AIDS-orphaned children showed higher depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scores in both 2005 and 2009 when compared with other-orphans and non-orphans. Backward-stepping regression, controlling for baseline mental health, and sociodemographic cofactors such as age, gender, and type of bereavement, revealed that being AIDS-orphaned in 2005 was associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores in 2009. This was not the case for other-orphaned or non-orphaned children. Age interacted with orphan status, such that there was a steep rise in psychological distress in the AIDS-orphaned group, but no rise with age amongst other-orphans and non-orphans. Conclusions: Negative mental health outcomes amongst AIDS-orphaned children are maintained and worsen over a 4-year period. It is important that psychosocial support programmes are sustained, and focus on youth as well as young children. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33273 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02459.x Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd restricted |
| spellingShingle | HIV/AIDS orphans anxiety adolescents depression post-traumatic stress Cluver, L. Orkin, M. Gardner, F. Boyes, Mark Persisting mental health problems among AIDS-orphaned children in South Africa |
| title | Persisting mental health problems among AIDS-orphaned children in South Africa |
| title_full | Persisting mental health problems among AIDS-orphaned children in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Persisting mental health problems among AIDS-orphaned children in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Persisting mental health problems among AIDS-orphaned children in South Africa |
| title_short | Persisting mental health problems among AIDS-orphaned children in South Africa |
| title_sort | persisting mental health problems among aids-orphaned children in south africa |
| topic | HIV/AIDS orphans anxiety adolescents depression post-traumatic stress |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33273 |