Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore and describe the experiences of children in families with children affected by HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. The findings also showed that children living in HIV/AIDS-infected and child-headed families were abused physically, sexually, emotionally and verbally.
Introduction and background
Children in child families experience shortages of basic things such as food, shelter, clothing and education. The living conditions of children in families affected by HIV/AIDS are very poor.
Problem statement
In Zimbabwe, many organizations including government and non-governmental organizations have been trying to come up with solutions to end the challenges faced by children in child-headed families. To reduce the challenges faced by families with children, the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Social Services, established the National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (Government of Zimbabwe, 2010).
Rationale for the study
Significance of the study
Purpose of the study
Objectives of the study
Definition of Terms
- Child
- Child-headed families
- Experience
- AIDS
The statement of the problem, justification of the study, significance of the study, objectives are presented in this chapter. The chapter details the prior research and literature used to motivate the study.
Introduction
Causes of child-headed families
Advantages of child-headed families
Some of the children in families with children may be entitled to other benefits, but due to lack of birth certificates they end up not getting what they should have. A study conducted in Zimbabwe found that most of the children in the head, especially those in commercial farms in Beatrice, do not have birth certificates (Walker, 2012).
Challenges experienced by children in child-headed families
- Education (School drop outs and poor performance)
- Food Insecurity
- Poor health status
- Stigmatisation
- Sexual exploitation
- Support System
School enrollment for children in families with children is lower than children who live with their parents. Walker (2012) states that stigmatization and social exclusion are common experiences experienced by children in families with children at the head.
Introduction
Approach and design
An exploratory design allowed for in-depth exploration by probing, where the children explained their experiences of being in HIV/AIDS-affected families with children at the head. The study used an exploratory approach to gain more information about the experiences of children living in HIV/AIDS-affected, child-headed families. According to Maree et al, (2016) a descriptive design can serve a number of research goals, but descriptive studies tend to be primarily concerned with finding answers to which questions.
Using a descriptive design, the researcher was able to intensively explore and describe the experiences of children in families headed by a child affected by HIV/AIDS. This study was contextually linked to the Rufaro community in families with children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Research setting
The Rufaro community is located in Region 5, which is characterized by drought and uncertain rainfall, making many parts unsuitable for agriculture. This simply shows that children in child-headed households, with their level of poverty, are not getting any produce from the farms because they cannot afford irrigation (Government of Zimbabwe, 2013). The Rufaro community depends on farm harvests for their survival and this makes life difficult for the children living in child families affected by HIV/AIDS.
The Rufaro community, compared to other surrounding communities, appears dilapidated and overcrowded, therefore orphans in child-headed families are more vulnerable to disease and hunger. Children in HIV/AIDS affected families with a child in the Rufaro community always suffer from poverty as they cannot meet their basic needs.
Study population and sampling
Population of the study
Much of the district is in region four, although some parts are in region five. This is because they cannot farm due to their age and lack of equipment to use for farming (Triangle Newsletter, 2016).
Sampling
Research Instrument
The probing questions asked were determined by the participants' answers to the central question (see Interview Guide Appendix C).
Pre-testing
Trustworthiness of the study
Reliability can only be achieved once the researcher has determined the credibility of the findings. Transferability of the study is not the responsibility of the researcher, only the potential users can make an informed decision regarding the applicability of the findings in their context (Polit and Beck, 2012). The expectation to determine whether the findings are appropriate or transferable rests with potential users of the findings and not with the researcher (Lincoln & Guba, 2010).
The researcher ensured that the findings were transferable by exposing the findings to colleagues for positive critique and sharing the findings with other organizations working with children. Confirmability was ascertained by examining the internal consistency of the research product, which consists of data, findings, interpretations, and recommendations.
Data collection procedure
Data management and analysis
Here, a checklist was developed as a pattern according to the data, and emerging themes were abbreviated as codes. The entire list was categorized and then reduced by grouping interrelated topics. Interrelationships were indicated by drawing lines between categories. Step 6: Abbreviating themes as code.
Formulated themes were abbreviated as codes and closely grouped into relevant text segments and reviewed to see if new categories or codes emerged. At this stage, existing data were recorded to ensure that all data were considered.
Ethical considerations
- Permission to Conduct Research
- Informed Consent
- Self-determination
- Anonymity
- Privacy and confidentiality
- Rights of the participants
A formal informed consent letter was issued to the participants before the interviews began in order to ensure that the participants took part in the study knowing what they were getting into. Participants were given the authority to either be part of the study or not and they could leave at any time, even after signing the consent forms. Based on the principle of anonymity, participants have the right to anonymity and the information they have provided during data collection must be kept confidential.
The researcher ensured that no physical, emotional or psychological harm was caused to the participants. The researcher ensured that the questions were non-judgmental in order to avoid anxiety and psychological discomfort of the participants.
Summary
Privacy implies that the element of personal privacy, while confidentiality indicates the treatment of information confidentially (De Vos, 2014). Confidentiality was maintained by ensuring that no participant names were attached to the tapes, transcripts or notes. Also, lists of names and notes were kept in a secure locked location to promote privacy and confidentiality.
Finally, participants were assured that the information provided would not be used against them.
INTRODUCTION
Demographic data of participants
Presentation and discussion of the findings
Financial constraints
- Lack of housing and proper shelter
- Lack of food
- Education
- Lack of proper sanitation
Family responsibilities
- Poor school attendance
- Poor Interaction with peers
Health problem
- Long distance walking to the clinic and hospital
Stigmatisation
- Psychosocial stress
- Fear of HIV transmission
- Experiencing low-self-esteem
The participants indicated that they had difficulty with rent money and that this made their lives difficult. The survey results also showed that the participants' education was interrupted by their situation. The participants also revealed that they used clothing as a sanitary napkin during their period.
The results of the study also revealed that the participants were afraid of getting HIV from their siblings. I have no friend at school because they all said I was too poor to be their friend and can't afford food; they even said I was after their food." (Participant 03) The results also revealed that because of how the teachers treated them, they were afraid to express themselves in class. The participants revealed that they were discriminated against by their friends , relatives and community members.
The participants revealed that they were not interested in playing with other children in the community because they were discriminated against.
Abuses
- Sexual, Physical, Verbal and Emotional Abuses
Support systems
However, some participants revealed that they received assistance in the form of clothing from various people, churches and non-governmental organizations. The findings showed that participants sometimes spent a day without being present at the clinic. The participants revealed that they were abused on a daily basis by their family members, friends, teachers and the community.
The participants also revealed that the work they were given was too much and inappropriate for their age. The findings of the study further revealed that the participants were forced into sexual activities in order to provide for the family. The findings showed that the participants were assisted in their lessons through the Basic Education Assistance Model.
The participants also revealed that they received health care through the National Board of Health and Welfare.
INTRODUCTION
Conclusions drawn from the study findings
The findings of this study indicated that children living in HIV/AIDS-infected and child-headed families experience adjustment problems. The study found that children living in families headed by a child affected by HIV/AIDS were involved in age-inappropriate work. The findings of this study showed that participants have difficulties in accessing health services.
The study found that some of the children living in households with HIV/AIDS-affected heads were infected by their mothers. Children living in families with heads affected by HIV/AIDS were sexually, physically, emotionally and verbally abused.
Recommendations
Recommendations for further researchers
The researcher's recommendation for future and further researchers is that more similar studies should be conducted in other parts of Zimbabwe as this study only covered the Rufaro community. The researcher recommends conducting quantitative research on the same study in a broader area. This will allow more children to be included in families affected by HIV/AIDS.
Some of the participants did not consent to the researcher using the audio recorder, so the researcher ended up spending more time writing notes. However, the researcher provided a thick description of the narrative, which gives readers a choice for generalizing the findings of the study.
Summary `
The main aim is to explore the experiences of children living in HIV/AIDS-affected families headed by children. Demographic information about children in child-headed families. Children's age (cross the appropriate age on the dotted line). The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of children in HIV/AIDS affected families with children in the Rufaro community.
The purpose of the study is to identify the experiences of children in families with children affected by HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. This study will focus only on children living in families headed by a child affected by HIV/AIDS.
