Psychological Adjustment of AIDS Orphans to Institutional Living A Comparative Study of Pre-adolescent AIDS Orphans in Selected Para-Church and Church-based Institutions in Nairobi

Abstract

The main focus of this study was to answer the question whether pre- adolescent AIDS orphans in selected institutions in Nairobi face unresolved psychological problems which might potentially impair their adjustment to institutional living or life as a whole. The researcher administered survey questionnaires to identify psychological symptoms that might significantly impair the adjustment and social functioning of pre-adolescent AIDS orphans. A total of 63 questionnaires were administered to respondents in 3 orphanages in Nairobi. Eight caregivers were interviewed for triangulation purposes. Responses from both the questionnaires and interviews were coded, and keyed into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.0 windows. The data was then analyzed and interpreted, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Significant pointers to the AIDS orphans' psychological adjustment to their environment were cross- tabulated to check for correlation. Nearly all caregivers reported that AIDS orphans were functioning as normal children would, and were highly optimistic and motivated to reach the highest point on the continuum of adjustment scale. Further all centres reported having in place a form of psychological support that provides counselling to the orphans. The results also show that HIV positive orphans exhibit high levels of adjustment as compared with non-positive orphans in Para- church centres and finally close to 75% of caregivers reported that spirituality had made much contribution to the smooth adjustment of AIDS orphans.