Abstract:
Childhood trauma is a silent epidemic in South Africa. Yearly, thousands of children are abandoned and the trend is not showing any signs of abating. Institutional child and youth care centres do not have sufficient funding or resources for daily therapeutic services. This essential requirement falls onto inexpert caregivers, dedicated to making a difference and leaving no vulnerable child behind.
A few studies were found that focused on caregivers caring for older children in institutional settings, but no research was identified that specifically focused on the care provided for infants and toddlers. Further studies have shown that the human brain develops rapidly in the first few years of life, being 80% fully grown at the age of 3 years and 95% by the time a child reaches 5 years old. Concluding that a child’s most important development happens between infancy and toddlerhood (birth to 3 years and 11 months of age), the aim of this study was to obtain an in-depth understanding of the views, perceptions, and experiences of caregivers caring for abandoned infants and toddlers in institutional care.
Using a qualitative research approach and applying a phenomenological research design, complemented by an explorative, descriptive, and contextual strategy of inquiry, the researcher explored the phenomenon. The key focus point is to offer guidelines for better social work support. These guidelines were formed by the suggestions of the caregivers with the hope of improving their caregiver role.
The systems theory with an eco-systems approach provided the lens through which the outcome of the study was shaped. People do not live in isolation, therefore their environment and peer relations shape their views, perceptions, and experiences. The researcher applied this theory to gain an understanding of how the caregivers’ outside world shapes their inner needs. In this instance, the caregiver receives directives in the caregiver role, but they are also subjected to the resources, support, and decisions of external role players, such as centre management, social workers, governmental facilities, courts, and the policies and legislation of the Children’s Act.
It is for this reason that the study was performed; to give a platform to caregivers in order for their voices to be heard.
Caregivers caring for numerous abandoned infants and toddlers can be overburdened, as these children are all impacted differently by the effects of abandonment. The findings from this study indicated that upbringing and religion play a large role in their decision to become caregivers to vulnerable children. Most of the participants became caregivers due to having a need and purpose to make a change in the lives of vulnerable children. With that said, a very small number of caregivers are in this role just to have a job and a salary at the end of the month.
Various positive and negative experiences in the caregiver role were identified. Their positive experiences were aligned with a sense of meaning and purpose in the work they do. Negative experiences in the caregiver role were related to the sadness and distress they experience when children they have cared for are taken from them. Furthermore, under negative experiences, caregivers also expressed their struggles in caring for children with behavioural concerns due to early adversities.
It was clear that abandonment does affect children living in institutional care on a multitude of levels. Caregivers expressed that through experience they have learned that the best way to bring healing to these children is through love and care. Forming a true attachment and bond with them is and an absolute must.
Many resources are made available to caregivers in their caregiver role, but one resource that has been mentioned repeatedly as lacking is medical assistance. This also includes therapies for the children affected by abandonment. The caregivers stated that the assistance they receive included support from management, volunteers, their communities, and churches or religious groups. Support plays a large part in the caregiver role.
Challenges experienced in the caregiver role range from difficulty with the children (such as behavioural issues), emotional stress, and burnout, to matters relating to management support and resources, financial instability and, lastly, the hurdles in relation to external role players (such as the social workers). Other obstacles include the lack of communication with external social workers and legal aspects, which include court proceedings and difficulties in obtaining birth certificates for abandoned children.
Based on the research findings, recommended guidelines for social worker support, policy, and practice concerning caregivers caring for abandoned infants and toddlers in institutional care were formulated. Additional recommendations for further research were also suggested.
