Caregivers' motivation for adopting children affected by and infected with HIV and/or AIDS

Abstract

This study focuses on the motivations of caregivers who have adopted children affected by, and infected with, HIV/AIDS. The caregivers who participated in the study are from Rustenburg, in the North-West Province. These caregivers form part of the ethnic group classified as Coloured. The community from which these caregivers come have many caregivers who regularly adopt and look after more than four children, at least one of whom is affected by, or infected with, HIV/AIDS. None of the children who were adopted lived with their biological parents, as their parents had either died of HIV/AIDS or had abandoned them when they were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. This research is a phenomenological study that followed a qualitative descriptive research design. This research design allowed the caregivers to share their motivations for adopting children affected by and infected with HIV/AIDS. The caregivers found it very rewarding to communicate and share their perspectives on, and motivations for, adopting children affected by and infected with HIV/AIDS, and to share their real thoughts and feelings. The caregivers were able to give profound and sincere answers about their motivation to adopt HIV/AIDS affected and infected children. Four female caregivers were purposefully selected from the Rustenburg area. All four of the caregivers were single parents; they have all lost their spouses as a result of death or divorce during the past 10 years. The researcher, therefore, collected data through observation, a focus group discussion, in-depth interviews and a collage activity. The focus group discussion and in-depth interviews were recorded on a digital voice recorder. The focus group discussion was conducted with the caregivers; one week prior to the in-depth interviews. The focus group discussion included a collage activity, where the caregivers used pictures and words to express their motivations to adopt HIV/AIDS affected and infected children. Thematic data analysis was used to transform the transcribed data into meaningful information on adoption.