title: Community-based mental health support for orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa: A triangulation study.
abstract: Community-based care is receiving increasing global attention as a way to support children who are orphaned or vulnerable due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Using both qualitative and quantitative methodology, this study assesses community-based responses to the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and compares these responses with the actual mental health of OVC in order to evaluate the South African government's approach of funding community-based organisations (CBOs) that support and care for OVC. The study results show that the activities of CBOs mainly extend government services and address poverty. Although this should not be seen as insignificant, the paper argues that CBOs give very little attention to the mental health of OVC.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, South Africa.
authors.forename: Lochner
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marais
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Houston, United States.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, South Africa.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pappin
authors.affiliation: Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kholisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rani
authors.affiliation: Research on Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.affiliation: Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, South Africa.
authors.forename: Molefi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenka
authors.affiliation: Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, South Africa.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cloete
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of the Free State, South Africa.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serekoane