title: Housing conditions and mental health of orphans in South Africa.
abstract: Literature from the developed world suggests that poor housing conditions and housing environments contribute to poor mental health outcomes, although research results are mixed. This study investigates the relationship between housing conditions and the socio-emotional health of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in South Africa. The results of the study are mainly inconclusive, although it is suggested that methodological considerations play a vital role in explaining the mixed results. However, a positive relationship was found between living in informal settlements and better socio-emotional health of the OVC. We speculate that the historical context of informal settlement formation in South Africa helps to explain this unexpected result.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, South Africa. Electronic address: MaraisJGL@ufs.ac.za.
authors.forename: Lochner
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marais
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pappin
authors.forename: Molefi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenka
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cloete
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serekoane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D054540:Child, Orphaned / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011638:Public Housing; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Housing conditions; Informal settlements; Mental health; Orphans