‘When will I be free’: Lessons from COVID-19 for Child Protection in South Africa

Abstract

Background COVID-19 has highlighted and amplified structural inequalities; drawing attention to issues of racism, poverty, xenophobia as well as arguably ineffective government policies and procedures. In South Africa, the pandemic and the resultant national lockdown has highlighted the shortcomings in the protection and care of children. Children in alternative care are particularly at risk as a result of disrupted and uncoordinated service delivery. Objective The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and impact of the pandemic and the resulting social isolation on the wellbeing and protection of children living in a residential care facility. Methods and participants: We used qualitative, participatory approaches – specifically draw-and-write methods – to engage with 32 children (average age = 13.5 years) living in a residential care facility in Gauteng. Findings Children in care demonstrated an awareness of the socio-economic difficulties facing communities in South Africa, and shared deep concerns about the safety, well-being and welfare of parents and siblings. Although they expressed frustration at the lack of contact with family members, they acknowledged the resources they had access to in a residential care facility, which enabled them to cope and which ensured their safety. Discussion and conclusion We focus our discussion on the necessity of a systemic response to child welfare, including a coordinated approach by policy makers, government departments and child welfare systems to address the structural factors at the root of inequality and inadequate, unacceptable care. This is essential not only during COVID-19 but also in pre- and post-pandemic context.

Culture, politics and being more equal than others in COVID-19: some psychological anthropology perspectives

“…Anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski (2018) noted that historically death was considered as much more than the departure of a family member, and that the ceremonial rituals addressed the fears, sadness, and disheartenment faced by the family, serving to unite and strengthen them through their time of grief. Reports of families’ inability to grieve in the usual, unhurried, ceremonial manner have been frequent due to COVID-19 ( Haffejee, 2020 ).…”

The views of children in residential care on the COVID-19 lockdown: Implications for and their well-being and psychosocial intervention

“…The restrictions introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have posed an added difficulty for children in care given their home situation and needs, placing them in an especially vulnerable position ( CFECFW, 2020 ; OECD, 2020 ). In this regard, one of the most important points to highlight is that contacts with the biological family were interrupted or limited and face-to-face visits replaced by online visits, causing an increase in stress for the children, their biological families and caregivers ( Haffejee & Levine, 2020 ; Neil, Copson, & Sorensen, 2020 ) and hindering reunification processes or stopping them altogether ( Callejas, Davidson, & Ismajli, 2020 ; Singer & Brodzinsky, 2020 ). Specifically in Catalonia, where this study took place, face-to-face visits were not resumed until mid-May and were subject to highly restrictive conditions (no overnight stays, only with parents, and accompanied by assigned caregivers or practitioners) ( DGAIA, 2020 ).…”

“…In South Africa, in a very different context, the results of a qualitative study conducted in 32 children in residential care, showed the diversity of personal experiences among children in the same children's home and the complexity of studying the impact of lockdown in this context. The children's emotions ranged from well-being to anger and frustration and they had ambivalent feelings that oscillated between feeling safe in the children's home and, at the same time, being affected by reduced contact with their biological family and concerned about their health ( Haffejee & Levine, 2020 ). Finally, a recent study including representatives from 67 non-governmental organisations in 14 different countries pointed out that, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, children in residential care were being returned more hastily to their biological families without receiving appropriate preparation and counselling beforehand, exposing these children to greater risk ( Wilke, Howard, & Goldman, 2020 ).…”

Doing Research with Young Children in Covid-19 Outbreak

“…The existence of the Covid-19 pandemic phenomenon gave rise to many new elements in early childhood research, such as economic, social, and political issues that turned out to be hidden behind early childhood issues. Reveal new shortcomings that have yet to emerge, including enlarging the dimensions of inequality [8] which is seen in public health, social structures, and systems [9] around children.…”