YOUNG CHILDREN AFFECTED BY HIV & AIDS: A CASE STUDY OF THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE

In South Africa currently many young children have challenges in social, educational, emotional and biological aspects. Many young children live in a context where there is a high prevalence of HIV positive adults and children, high poverty and unemployment. This research is an exploration of the children's perceptions of their quality of life and their ideas of what it should be. A qualitative, case study research design was used. The sample consisted of seven children who attended a Drop In-Centre, which is a community place where an adult mother figure cares for the two to five year old children during the day and the the six to fifteen year old children, before and after school. A questionnaire was administered to capture the children's biographic data and semi-strucuted interviews provided data on their understanding of their quality of life. The findings indicate that the children have access to school and are acutely aware of their particular context and situations. Also, their overall perceptions of their quality of life at the Drop In-centre are positive but mostly negative for their home life. Children require both material and non-material needs in their homes. The children would experience extensive problems on all fronts, especially for those that live in child-headed homes, if the centres were not there to provide some of their basic needs.