202551 Family-based AIDS Orphan Care and Psychological Problems of Orphans: Does It Matter Who Is the Care-giver?

Monday, November 9, 2009

Qun Zhao, PhD , Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Xiaoming Li, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Liying Zhang , Prevention Research Center, Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Guoxiang Zhao, PhD , Department of Psychology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
Junfeng Zhao, PhD , Department of Psychology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
Xiuyun Lin, PhD , School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Previous studies suggested that care arrangement and care-giver characteristics had a potential impact on psychosocial problems of double AIDS orphans (Children who had lost both parents to AIDS). However, data are limited regarding the impact of different types of caregivers in family-based orphan care. The purpose of this study is to compare psychological symptoms among AIDS orphans who received care at different family-based care settings (i.e. own families, extended families, non-family caregivers).

The participants include 169 double AIDS orphans from four recently-established AIDS orphanages in rural China. Prior to being replaced in AIDS orphanages, these children had received family-based care at different types of households, which included own families (39%), extended families (38%), and foster families (i.e., non-family households) (23%). The psychological measures include traumatic symptoms, depression, and loneliness. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses suggested that children who were previously cared by non-family households scored significantly higher in traumatic symptoms, depression and loneliness scales than children by their own families and extended families. Multivariate analysis, controlling for children's gender, age, length in orphanages, number of household replacements, and total duration of prior care, revealed that care setting was significantly associated with traumatic symptoms (anger and sexual concerns), depression and loneliness symptoms.

Results in the current study suggest that AIDS orphan care efforts need to pay attention to improve the quality of foster family care. Meanwhile appropriate psychosocial support and counseling services are needed for AIDS orphans who either currently or previously under the care of foster family in China.

Learning Objectives:
Results in the current study demonstrated that appropriate psychosocial support and counseling services are needed for AIDS orphans who either currently or previously under the care of foster family in China.

Keywords: Adolescents, International, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am postdoctoral research fellow of this program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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