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CHAPTER THREE THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS COMPLEMENTED BY A LITERATURE CONTROL ON THE REALITIES OF ORPHANED CHILDREN LIVING IN CHH AND THE PARTICIPANTS’ VIEWS ON THE INTEGRATION OF CHH INTO EXTENDED FAMILIES (SECTION 1)
INTRODUCTION
The aim of the study being presented was to develop an in-depth understanding of the barriers that hinder effective integration of CHH into extended families from the perspective of the extended family members, children heading CHH and social workers in order to formulate practice guidelines to inform the family integration process of these orphaned children. In order to realise this aim a qualitative approach was followed whereby the researcher used semi-structured interviews to collect data from the children heading CHH, their extended family members, and the social workers who participated in the study.
Data were analysed using Tesch’s eight steps as cited in Creswell (2003:192-193) of data analysis. Data presented in this chapter were validated through the use of an independent coder who analysed the data independently from the researcher. Upon completion of these independent processes of data analysis, the researcher and independent coder engaged in a consensus discussion facilitated by the study’s promoter to compare and consolidate the themes, sub-themes, categories and sub-categories which emerged from the data-analysis processes. (See Chapter 2 of this research report for a detailed description of how the qualitative research process was applied in the study.) Four themes with related sub-themes, categories and sub-categories (where applicable) emerged from the data analysis processes and are set out in Table 3.8 under section 3.3 in this chapter.
Due to the voluminous scale of the data collected, the findings of the study will be presented in two sections. Each section will be presented in a separate chapter, i.e. this chapter (Chapter 3) and the next chapter (Chapter 4). Section 1 in Chapter 3 will present the first and second themes, while Section 2 in Chapter 4 will present the third and the fourth themes. The findings will be presented according to themes, sub-themes, categories as well as sub-categories (where applicable) as mentioned above and confirmed or underscored by direct quotations or storylines from the transcribed interviews. This method of reporting is supported by Neuman (2006:181) who asserts that data for qualitative research are mostly presented in the form of written words or spoken words from the participants.
The identified themes, sub-themes, categories and complementing storylines from the transcripts will be compared and contrasted with existing theories and previous literature2 in order to establish the credibility and the trustworthiness of the study (Creswell, 2003:196). This activity is referred to as a “literature control” (Creswell, 1994:23). It is worth mentioning that the sub-themes do overlap as the study was conducted with a contextual approach (Neuman, 2006:158).
The researcher will first present the demographic data of the participants (i.e. children heading CHH, the extended family members and the social workers). Since the research topic dealt with a sensitive phenomenon, the researcher used pseudonyms and letters of the alphabet in order to protect the participants’ identities (Christians in Denzin & Lincoln, 2005:145). The overview of the themes, sub-themes, categories and where applicable the sub-categories will also be presented in the chapter. The researcher will then present the first theme, namely the realities of orphaned children living in CHH. The chapter closes with the presentation of the second theme, namely the participants’ views on the potential value of integrating orphaned children into extended families.
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON THE RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
In this section, the demographic data concerning children heading the CHH, their extended family members and social workers who participated in the study will be presented.
Demographic data of children heading households
A total of ten children who acted as head of CHH were purposively selected for participation in this study. The demographic data of the children heading households are portrayed by focusing on their ages at the time of conducting the study; when they commenced being heads of the households, their gender and educational status, their ethnicity and the household size.
Ages of the children heading the child-headed households
Table 3.1 below depicts the dispersed ages of children who were heading households at the time of conducting the study and the ages of commencement as heads of the households.
The dispersion of scores in Table 3.1 on the ages of children heading households at the time of conducting the study indicates that the children’s ages ranged from 16 to 17. There were six children who were 16 years old and four children who were 17 years old. The Children’s Amendment Act (Act 41/2007: Sec 137(1)(c)) stipulates that a child who is 16 years old may be considered as head of a household and bear rights and responsibilities as a caregiver. It is evident from the ages of the children who participated in the study that they were within the age limit for being heads of these households according to this Act.
However, Table 3.1 also indicates that the children’s ages when they commenced as heads of the households were all below this age. Four of the children were 13 years old when they took up the responsibility as heads of their respective households; three were 14 years old while the remaining three were 15 years old. This indicates that the children were exposed to their present life circumstances at an early age, which is currently regarded as “unacceptable” by the Children’s Amendment Act (Act 41/2007: Sec 137(1)(c)). The significance of age to the study is that it provides an analytical framework for understanding the relationship between the children’s life experiences as heads of households at a tender age and their need for integration with their extended families, taking into consideration the developmental tasks for this age group.
The ages of the children at the time of conducting the study indicate that the children fall within the “adolescence stage”. This stage includes persons who are about 12 years to 18 years or even up to 21 years of age (Craig & Baucum, 2002:5). According to Craig and Baucum (2002:407), adolescents must confront the following two major developmental tasks: achieving autonomy and independence from parents and family (although the form this takes varies across cultures); and forming an identity, which means creating an integrated self that harmoniously combines different elements of the personality. As the study sought to develop an in-depth understanding of the barriers that hinder effective integration of CHH into extended families, understanding the developmental tasks for this age group provides a better understanding of the children’s need for being integrated with their extended families. Craig and Baucum (2002:440) caution that chronological age (i.e. the number of years of life) of an individual has relatively little meaning when it is understood by itself. The age of a person should be understood in relation to emotional maturity (Craig & Baucum, 2002:380). In his study on the coping strategies of orphans in CHH, Germann (2005:247) found that one of the important reasons that made children living in CHH cope with their life circumstances was their resilience, which was partly reflected in the children’s high level of self-esteem.
Gender of the children heading the child-headed household
Table 3.2 depicts the gender of the children who participated in the study and acted as heads in their respective CHH.
Five of the children who participated in this study and acted as heads in their respective CHH were male, and five were female. This equal distribution between the genders in respect of being the head in a CHH indicates that there has been a shift in the patterns of gender and family care. Germann (2005:90) highlights that in most African countries before the onset of HIV/AIDS, most girl children provided care to their younger siblings whereas boys were less likely to provide care to their siblings. This was attributed to the gender stereotypes that women were perceived as the caretakers of the family (i.e. occupied with cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the sick), whereas men were seen as breadwinners of their families. Both girls and boys were heading their households and were responsible for performing all household chores including taking care of their younger siblings (see section 3.3.1.2 in this chapter).
Educational status of children heading the households
The educational status of the children is significant to the study as it provides an insight into the children’s life experiences as heads of households and the effect of these experiences on their access to educational opportunities.
Nine out of the 10 children who participated in the study were attending school. One of the children was doing grade 11, five were doing grade 10 while the remaining three were doing grade nine. One of the ten children who participated in the study had dropped out of school when she was 14 years old which is a compulsory school attendance age according to the South African Schools Act (Act 84/1996: Sec 3(1) (6)). According to this Act, it is compulsory for all children up to the age of 15 to attend school. The child was forced to drop out of school in order to take care of her sick mother as the mother did not have any one else to take care of her, especially after the maternal grandmother refused to assist. This finding is supported by Smart (2003: 7) and Foster (2004:5) who state that the human and social costs of HIV&AIDS are enormous for children as some children, especially girls, are forced to drop out of school in order to provide care and support to their sick parents.
The household size of the child-headed household
The number of children in the CHH is significant to the study as it depicts the burden of care which the children heading households are exposed to with regard to taking care of their younger siblings and how this can affect their need for integration with their extended families. Germann (2005:67) highlights that, as a result of AIDS, an increased number of orphaned children will grow up in households headed by adolescent caregivers as they lose their parents to the disease. Craig and Baucum (2002:395), discussing the effects of early parenthood, indicate that even with their own children, teenagers find it difficult to care for the needs of these children as they are still struggling to meet their own developmental needs. Mkhize (2006:96) asserts that these children are forced into becoming primary caregivers for their younger siblings while they are still children who have an equal right to parental care.
Table 3.4 above shows the total number of children in the household. It is worth mentioning that the number of children as depicted in Table 3.4 includes the children who were heading these households. There were six households with two children, three households with three children, and one household with four children. It is evident that the majority of the households involved in the study contained two children. Similar findings were found by Richter & Desmond (2008:1023) in their analysis of five comparable household surveys conducted by Statistics South Africa, namely that the majority of CHH (82%) consisted of one or two children while 18% had more than two children in the household. This is contrary to the findings of the situational analysis of CHH in South Africa commissioned by the Department of Social Development and conducted by the University of South Africa. The situational analysis found that the average number of children who were living in CHH was four (Department of Social Development, 2008:148).
DECLARATION
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABSTRACT
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL ORIENTATION TO THE STUDY
1.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION, PROBLEM FORMULATION AND THE MOTIVATION FOR
THE STUDY
1.2 THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS, PRIMARY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH
1.3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1.4 CLARIFICATION OF KEY CONCEPTS
1.5 CHAPTER-WISE OUTLINE OF THE RESEARCH REPORT
1.6 DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS
1.7 SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER
CHAPTER TWO A DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION OF THE QUALITATIVE RESEARCH PROCESS FOR INVESTIGATING THE RESEARCH TOPIC UNDER DISCUSSION
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 ACKNOWLEDGE SOCIAL SELF
2.3 ADOPT A PERSPECTIVE (I.E. RESEARCH APPROACH)
2.4 DESIGN THE STUDY
2.5 COLLECT DATA
2.6 ANALYSE AND INTERPRET DATA
2.7 INFORM OTHERS
2.8 SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER
CHAPTER THREE THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS COMPLEMENTED BY A LITERATURE CONTROL ON THE REALITIES OF ORPHANED CHILDREN LIVING IN CHH AND THE PARTICIPANTS’ VIEWS ON THE INTEGRATION OF CHH INTO EXTENDED FAMILIES
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON THE RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
3.3 OVERVIEW OF THEMES, SUB-THEMES AND CATEGORIES
CHAPTER FOUR THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS COMPLEMENTED BY A LITERATURE CONTROL ON BARRIERS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION OF CHH INTO EXTENDED FAMILIES
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 THEME 3: BARRIERS HINDERING EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION OF CHH INTO EXTENDED
FAMILIES
4.3 THEME 4: SUGGESTIONS TO OVERCOME HINDRANCES TO INTEGRATING ORPHANED
CHILDREN FROM CHH INTO EXTENDED FAMILIES
4.4 SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER
CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 RE-STATING THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS, GOAL AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
5.3 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH PROCESS APPLIED TO INVESTIGATE THE RESEARCH TOPIC UNDER DISCUSSION
5.4 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
5.5 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ARISING FROM THE RESEARCH FINDINGS
5.6 RECOMMENDAIONS
5.7 SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF CHILD-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS INTO EXTENDED FAMILIES
