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Published on: October 31, 2010
Fears of South African children affected by HIV/AIDS
Pedro Zwemstra1, Helene Loxton
1Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
Insights
Children affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa experience typical fears, but their unique environment shapes specific anxieties. Wild animal and snake fears were most common, alongside context-related concerns.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Public Health
- African Studies
Background:
- Children's living environments can influence the development of specific fears.
- High prevalence of HIV/AIDS in low socioeconomic communities presents unique challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the fears of children living in a South African community with high HIV/AIDS prevalence.
- To determine if these children constitute a special population regarding their fears.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Free Option Method to identify children's fears.
- Employed a priori thematic analysis followed by qualitative analysis for data interpretation.
Main Results:
- Expressed fears aligned with categories found in normative samples.
- Fears of wild animals, particularly snakes, were most frequently reported.
- A significant minority of fears reflected the specific context of living in an HIV/AIDS-affected South African community.
Conclusions:
- Children in this study represented a normative population concerning fears.
- Their unique circumstances led to the experience of particular fears.
- Further research into the fears and psychological issues of children affected by HIV/AIDS is recommended.
Abstract:
Although fears are part of normal development, the living environment of HIV/AIDS affected children is conducive to the development of particular fears. This study examined the fears of 39 South African children (7-13 years) living in a low socioeconomic community with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. The aim was to consider if these children were a special population with regard to their fears. The Free Option Method was used to identify the children's fears. Data were analyzed by means of a priori thematic analysis, followed by a qualitative analysis. The expressed fears could be described with fear categories previously reported by normative samples. The wild animal category and specifically snake fears were reported most. The second analysis revealed a substantial minority of fears reflecting life in the South African HIV/AIDS affected context. It was concluded that the children represented a normative population who experienced particular fears due to their special circumstances. Further investigation of HIV/AIDS affected children's fears and related psychological issues is recommended.
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