Educational and Psychosocial Effects of AIDS on Orphans from a Previously Disadvantaged South African Township

摘要

The study investigated education and psychosocial effects of learners orphaned by AIDS. The investigation focused on the learners' day to day experiences. This study is a case study, based on the qualitative approach and grounded on the interpretive paradigm. Six participants were purposely selected. They were two maternal orphans, two paternal orphans and two double orphans. Their ages ranged from seven to 18. Two of the teenage orphan participants were HIV-positive. The individual interviews were conducted. The participants' historical background was provided by their mothers, in the case of paternal orphans, their fathers in the case of maternal orphans and guardians or grandparents in the case of double orphans. The findings reported that orphan learners are most of the time absent from school because they take care of their sick parents, discriminated against by their peers, some of them work part time to augment family income, and some resort to prostitution to get money.