Riglyne vir 'n MIV/VIGS-hulpverleningsprogram aan adolessente ter voorbereiding op ouers se afsterwe

Abstract

This research was undertaken to determine the needs of adolescents and their experience of the death of their parents due to AIDS. AIDS is a still growing pandemic that is eliminating thousands of lives in South Africa and influencing drastical by the lives of the relatives. Adolescents that are in a unique stage of life, suffer most when AIDS interferes in their lives, when a parent is diagnosed with AIDS. When these parents die, it has some implications on the adolescents' functioning and life. Adolescents have unique physical and emotional needs, and when their parents die a vacuum is created in fulfilling their needs. With the death of a parent due to AIDS, the adolescent discloses a need for education and bereavement counseling. With reference to identified needs and experiences of adolescents with the death of parents due to AIDS, program guidelines are composed that will serve as a basis for a program helping adolescents prepare for the death of their parents due to AIDS. There should continuously be looked for other ways to address this problem. Community based care as well as the 'buddy'-system are current socialwork programs that form part and can be used as part of a program helping these adolescents.