An exploratory study on the challenges faced by grandmother-headed households in rural Ndwedwe

Abstract

In South African rural areas, many children are raised in grandmother-headed households due to various socio-economic challenges. These include the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which left a large number of children orphaned, the breakdown of traditional family structures, high rates of poverty and unemployment, and the migration of parents in search of economic opportunities, compelling their grandparents to take up their care. Grandmothers who have taken on the role of primary caregivers face unique challenges in providing emotional and physical care for their grandchildren. The physical, emotional, and financial strain of this responsibility can be overwhelming, as they navigate issues such as limited access to social services, inadequate healthcare, and societal biases against grandmother headed households. While substantial research has examined the experiences of grandmothers caring for their grandchildren in rural South African areas, there is limited exploration of the specific challenges and support needs these grandmothers face. This underscores the importance of the current study, which aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the psychosocial challenges and experiences faced by grandmothers and grandchildren living in these households. The goal was to understand their needs and inform the development of more effective support systems. A qualitative research approach was used to gain insight into the perspectives of fourteen grandmothers of varying ages and socioeconomic backgrounds and eleven child and youth care workers working in the milieu of these families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand the reasons for grandmothers taking on the parental role, the fears and anxieties they face, the support they receive from formal and informal sources, and the community strategies that can be put in place, to help support families living in grandmother-headed households. Using thematic analysis, five key themes and nineteen sub-themes emerged from the data. The findings revealed that grandmothers were motivated by a strong desire to provide a stable, loving environment for their grandchildren. However, they faced numerous challenges, including financial strain, physical and emotional exhaustion, challenging behaviours displayed by their grandchildren, and difficulties navigating government bureaucracy. Child and youth care workers also reported struggling to offer adequate support due to limited resources and societal biases against grandmother-headed households. Throughout the study, participants emphasised the need for more comprehensive support systems, including increased access to social services, financial assistance, and community-based programs. Addressing these gaps would enable grandmothers to better focus on the needs of their grandchildren and foster stronger, more resilient families. The study underscores the importance of recognising and supporting the vital role grandmothers play, in caring for vulnerable children in South Africa.