Experiences of Grandmothers Caring for Orphan Grandchildren in Botswana

Abstract

Grandparents are an important support system of orphans in Botswana since there are very few orphanages. In order to support grandparents in this role, community health nurses need to provide comprehensive health promotion for grandmothers caring for orphans that includes support groups and multidisciplinary care teams to ensure that the grandmothers' health is not neglected. Nurse educators should also include care of grandmothers caring for orphans in their curricula.

Caring for HIV‐positive orphans in the context of HIV and AIDS: perspectives of Botswana grandmothers

“…Prolonged engagement with the participants in the field ensured credibility as well as immersing one in the data. Emerging themes were validated with the grandmothers to ensure member checking (Shaibu, 2013).…”

“…In sub-Saharan Africa grandmothers are increasingly taking up the role of caretaker roles due to high HIV and AIDS prevalence (Skovdal et al, 2011;Schatz et al, 2013;Mhaka-Mutepfa et al, 2014;Rutakumwa et al, 2015). Most orphans in Botswana are cared for by grandmothers (Alpaslan & Mabutho, 2005;Maundeni & Malinga-Musamba, 2012;Shaibu, 2013).…”

Impact of Protective Factors on Resilience of Grandparent Carers Fostering Orphans and Non-Orphans in Zimbabwe

“…The studies by Sabella (2012) and Mudavanhu et al (2008) are the major exceptions, although they did not focus on resilience per se. Previous studies focused on the lack of health and well-being among grandparents with carer roles (Howard et al, 2006;Musil, Warner, Zauszniewski, Jeanblanc, & Kercher, 2006;Nyambedha, Wandibba, & Aagaard-Hansen, 2003;Oburu & Palmerus, 2005;Shaibu, 2013), including the stress experienced (Ice, Sadruddin, Vagedes, Yogo, & Juma, 2012;Oburu & Palmerus, 2005;Ogunmefun, Gilbert, & Schatz, 2011), psychosocial needs (Nyasani et al, 2009), and quality of life of grandparent carers (Knodel, 2006).…”

“…In sub-Saharan Africa, grandparents traditionally often carry significant custody of the grandchildren (Nyasani, Sterberg, & Smith, 2009;Shaibu, 2013), even with surviving parents of the children. The phenomenon for grandparents to care for children has increased with the mortality from HIV and AIDS of the parents of the children.…”

Estrategias de afrontamiento familiar y repercusiones en la salud familiar: Una revisión de la literatura

“…Estas fueron: 6 estudios sobre estrategias de afrontamiento familiar en las enfermedades crónicas (16,18,24,29,35,37) , 6 sobre el Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA) (20,23,30,(32)(33)(34) , 4 sobre enfermedades mentales (25,27,31,36) , 2 sobre adicciones (22,26) , 2 sobre accidentes y discapacidad (8,17) , 2 sobre reajuste familiar (21,28) , y el restante, sobre la pérdida del trabajo y las dificultades financieras (19) .…”