Abstract:
Background. Orphans occasioned by death of one or both parents through HIV/AIDS are exposed to numerous challenges in life that may affect their psychological status. However, relationships between these challenges and their psychosocial status remain rather unknown for many of these children. Objectives. This study assessed the effects of various challenges on the psychosocial status of the HIV/AIDS orphans in Wareng District, Eldoret. The specific objectives of the study were: to establish the nature and extent of psychosocial problems facing HIV/AIDS orphans; to determine the economic problems among HIV/AIDS orphans and how these affect their psychosocial status; establish the social problems faced by the HIV/AIDS orphans and how these affect their psychosocial status; and finally to determine the social support programs for the HIV/AIDS orphans and how these affect their psychosocial status in Wareng District of Uasin Gishu County. Study design. This study was conducted through cross-sectional research design. Sample size: Samples were collected from Kapseret and Kesses Division that represent Wareng District. The instruments of data collection were structured questionnaires, interview schedules and document analysis. Collected data were analysed by descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, cross-tabulation, Chi-square (2) tests and bivariate correlation analysis. Findings. Personal problems experienced by the orphans included depression, trauma, stress, seclusion and grief. Economic problems experienced by the HIV/AIDS orphans ranged from poor living conditions, lack of basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and education. Social problems among the orphans were found to be high and were mainly associated with changed social behaviour of the children through seclusion causing other vices such as drug and substance abuse. Low levels of social support programmes were available to few orphans. Recommendation. Consequently, it is recommended that all stakeholders in the society must join hands to provide psychosocial, economic and social support to the orphans through government and private sector led initiatives of compensation for the families that take good care of the orphans including their basic needs and psychosocial needs, proper guidance and counselling, and provision of more social welfare support.
