Browsing by Author "Urio, Justine Elisaa"

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    The relationship between social support and coping strategies among the aids orphaned children in the orphanages and in the communities of Dar es Salaam
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2006) Urio, Justine Elisaa
    Research problem: The role of extended family and community in general, in providing social support to children had been eroded by the extreme poverty and the onset of HIV/AIDS making children to resort to variety of coping strategies. This study undertook to explore the type of social support delivered and coping strategies employed by the AIDS orphaned children in the orphanages and in the communities. The study sought to analyze the relationship between social support and coping strategies adopted by AIDS orphaned children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in the orphanages and in the communities in Dar es Salaam from April to June 2005. The sample included 209 respondents of which 180 were children ranging in age from 10 to 17 years and 29 respondents were children caretakers in age range from 30 to 60 years. The data were collected through questionnaire and semi structured interview. The data were also analyzed quantitatively through the use of SPSS Version 11. Findings: The study established a significant difference between social support delivered in the orphanages and in communities in Dar es Salaam. Social support situation was found to be better in the orphanages than in the communities. However, the study could not find any significant difference between the loose of one parent or both and the coping strategies that were adopted by AIDS orphaned children. Concerning the capping strategies, the respondents used both problem and emotionally focused coping with less use of maladaptive coping such as cigarettes, alcoholic drinks and illegal drugs. The study established a significant positive relationship between information, emotional support and problem focused coping while instrumental and appraisal support correlated positively with both emotional and problem focused coping. The study did not find any significant statistical relationship between information support, emotional support and emotional focused coping. Conclusion: The social support situation was determining in the communities/ although children utilized both emotional and problem focused coping strategies of the nature of parental loss. Recommendations: The government and non government institutions must take necessary actions to empower traditional care and social support system in the communities and support families, old caregivers and children affected by AIDS. There is need to encourage more tasked oriented coping to children regardless of the nature of their parental loss.