title: Public Perceptions, Beliefs and Experiences of Fostering and Adoption: A National Qualitative Study in South Africa.
abstract: In South Africa, rates of adoption remain low while the number of fostered children continually rises. Little is known about the public perceptions, beliefs and experiences that inform decisions to either foster or adopt in South Africa. This qualitative research explored these issues among a national sample of childless adults, biological parents, kin and non-kin fostering parents and prospective and successful adopters. Fostering is driven predominantly by access to subsidies but is also informed by socio-cultural beliefs. Low adoption rates are influenced by an absence of subsidies, poor access to quality adoptive services and a lack of information about adoption.
authors.affiliation: Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies University of KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal South Africa; Department of Psychology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa; Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department of Psychiatry University of Oxford Oxford UK.
authors.forename: Tamsen J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Rochat
authors.affiliation: Human Sciences Research Council Pretoria South Africa; Department of Sociology University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa.
authors.forename: Zitha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mokomane
authors.affiliation: Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies University of KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal South Africa; Department of Psychology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa.
authors.forename: Joanie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mitchell
keywords: South Africa; adoption; fostering; perceptions; qualitative