INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILD CARE IN URBAN SOUTH AFRICA

2012) In a study on mental health problem prevention, Thupayagale-Tshweneagae and
Mokomane reported children’s responses to parental death or disability including
statements of ‘I felt like killing myself’; ‘It is very painful’; and ‘I am lonely’. (2006)
Many orphaned children are likely to need even more emotional support from new
caregivers after having to endure the stress of parental illness, followed by the stress of
parental death. (Wild, 2006) Children who have been identified as AIDS orphans may
face stressors resulting from the associated stigma. (Richter, Foster, & Sherr, 2006) A
study by Drew, Makufa, & Foster (1998) found a disproportionately high occurrence of
cognitive development delays and social impairments among orphans against a control
group of nonorphans. Other studies have revealed extreme distress (Atwine, Cantor-
Graae, & Banjurnirwe, 2005), grief (Cluver & Gardner, 2006), and a vulnerability to
exploitation (Punaks & Feit, 2014) are also pervasive risks prevalent in the OVC
experience.
Gaps in Scholarship
Studying for Differences
The Mientjes & Giese study is one of the few that sought to study OVC
terminology, for differences and disparities rather than shared characteristics. (2006)
While many researchers have acknowledged the diversity in the make-up of their study
populations of OVC, most have studied children for common traits and recurring patterns
instead of differences. (Pare & Felson, 2014; Whitworth, 2013) With many studies
applying definitions or approaches to orphanhood terminology based on Western
constructs or false assumptions of uniformity, contributions to the small body of work
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