Persisting Mental Health Problems among AIDS-Orphaned Children in South Africa

Autor/inn/en	Cluver, Lucie D.; Orkin, Mark; Gardner, Frances; Boyes, Mark E.
Titel	Persisting Mental Health Problems among AIDS-Orphaned Children in South Africa
Quelle	In: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53 (2012) 4, S.363-370 (8 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0021-9630
DOI	10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02459.x
Schlagwörter	Control Groups; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Mental Health; Foreign Countries; Psychology; Depression (Psychology); Anxiety; Children; Longitudinal Studies; Interviews; Statistical Analysis; Comparative Analysis; Age Differences; Sex; Adolescents; Death; Victims; Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Psychohygiene; Ausland; Psychologie; Angst; Child; Kind; Kinder; Longitudinal study; Longitudinal method; Longitudinal methods; Längsschnittuntersuchung; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Statistische Analyse; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Geschlecht; Geschlechtsverkehr; Adolescent; Adolescence; Adoleszenz; Jugend; Jugendalter; Jugendlicher; Sterbefall; Tod; Todesfall; Victim; Opfer; Afrika
Abstract	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. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10