"it's very genuine": The perceptions of stakeholders on the primary caregiving relationships of adolescents orphaned by AIDS and grandmothers

Abstract

Adolescents orphaned through Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are at higher risk of poor developmental outcomes due to the trauma caused by the parent’s AIDS related illness and resultant death, lack of stable care and support and financial difficulties among others. Research shows that high quality parental care is needed to nurture the development of these vulnerable youth. The current study explores the quality of caregiving relationships between AIDS-orphaned adolescents and grandmother primary caregivers, based on the narratives of stakeholders. Special focus was on finding out whether these relationships were perceived as promoting the emotional and psychosocial wellbeing of the orphans. A qualitative methodological framework with narrative inquiry approach was utilised. In-depth interviews were conducted with 6 purposefully selected stakeholders who provide psychosocial support services to orphans and primary caregivers. Stakeholders reported that, due to the grandmothers’ genuine love and care, most of these relationships were found to be nourishing to the development of the orphans. It was further indicated that, the orphans fared well socially, emotionally and cognitively and performed highly at school.