'When will I be free': Lessons from COVID-19 for Child Protection in South Africa
'When will I be free': Lessons from COVID-19 for Child Protection in South Africa
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DOI：
10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104715
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发表时间：
2020-12-01
影响因子：
4.8
通讯作者：
Levine, Diane Thembekile
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Haffejee, Sadiyya;Levine, Diane Thembekile
背景：新冠肺炎强调并放大了结构性不平等；提请人们注意种族主义、贫困、仇外心理以及可以说是无效的政府政策和程序。在南非，这一流行病以及由此导致的全国封锁凸显了儿童保护和照料方面的不足。由于服务提供中断和不协调，接受替代照料的儿童尤其面临风险。目标：本研究的目的是探索大流行和由此导致的社会孤立对居住在寄宿照料机构的儿童的福祉和保护的经验和影响。方法和参与者：我们使用定性、参与性的方法-特别是抽写法-与居住在豪登省的寄宿照料机构的32名儿童(平均年龄=13.5岁)进行互动。研究结果：被照料的儿童表现出对南非社区面临的社会经济困难的认识，并对其安全性深表担忧，父母和兄弟姐妹的幸福和福利。尽管他们对与家庭成员缺乏联系表示失望，但他们承认，他们可以从寄宿照料机构获得资源，这使他们能够应付，并确保了他们的安全。讨论和结论：我们的讨论集中在对儿童福利做出系统性反应的必要性上，包括政策制定者、政府部门和儿童福利系统协调一致的方法，以解决不平等和不充分、不可接受的护理的根源的结构性因素。这一应对措施不仅在新冠肺炎期间至关重要，在大流行前后也是如此。
Background: COVID-19 has highlighted and amplified structural inequalities; drawing attention to issues of racism, poverty, xenophobia as well as arguably ineffective government policies and procedures. In South Africa, the pandemic and the resultant national lockdown have highlighted the shortcomings in the protection and care of children. Children in alternative care are particularly at risk as a result of disrupted and uncoordinated service delivery.Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and impact of the pandemic and the resulting social isolation on the wellbeing and protection of children living in a residential care facility.Methods and participants: We used qualitative, participatory approaches - specifically draw-and-write methods - to engage with 32 children (average age = 13.5 years) living in a residential care facility in Gauteng.Findings: Children in care demonstrated an awareness of the socio-economic difficulties facing communities in South Africa, and shared deep concerns about the safety, well-being and welfare of parents and siblings. Although they expressed frustration at the lack of contact with family members, they acknowledged the resources they had access to in a residential care facility, which enabled them to cope and which ensured their safety.Discussion and conclusion: We focus our discussion on the necessity of a systemic response to child welfare, including a coordinated approach by policy makers, government departments and child welfare systems to address the structural factors at the root of inequality and inadequate, unacceptable care. This response is essential not only during COVID-19 but also in pre- and post-pandemic context.