Caregivers' perceptions of emotional and behavioural difficulties experienced by teenage orphans living in Mogapi (Botswana)

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master’s Degree in Research Psychology At the University of the Witwatersrand 2015The research project explored the caregivers’ perceptions of emotional and behavioural problems experienced by teenage orphans in Mogapi. Semi-structured interviews were utilized. The sample size was nine participants from Mogapi village in Botswana. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and several themes were identified. The themes that emerged were orphans’ emotional and behavioural problems; caregivers feeling disrespected by orphans under their care; caregivers’ feelings of helplessness; challenges faced by caregivers; absent fathers; as well as caregivers’ disregard for importance of communication with the orphans under their care. The results indicated that these caregivers do not attribute the orphans’ emotional and behavioural problems to orphan-hood as was suggested by the literature. Few of the caregivers indicated that they offer emotional and psychological support to orphans under their care by giving advice and ensuring that the orphans are aware that they have a provider that is as much of a parent as their late biological parent(s). A few recommendations were made based on these findings, such as the need for further research in this area, as well as training and workshops for caregivers, teachers and orphaned children in this regard