“My Cry as an Orphaned Child Living in a Child-headed Household”: A Case of a Rural Community in a Bosheka Village, South Africa

Child-headed households are homes where parents or guardians are absent, and the children support each other, with the eldest child usually becoming the head of the household. The care of children within African societies often extends beyond just the parents. The extended family plays a crucial role in the upbringing and support of children. It is, therefore, assumed that the extended family and the community would take turns caring for orphaned children; however, sometimes, that is not the case.

This study aimed to explore the challenges faced by orphaned children living in child-headed households in a selected village in South Africa.

The study adopted a qualitative approach using an exploratory phenomenological design. The sample size was comprised of 20 participants, which was determined by data saturation, and a thematic data analysis was performed on the collected data.

Three themes emerged from the data: food insecurity, sexual abuse, and the responsibility of staying alone; hence, children who live in child-headed households face different psychological and socio-economic challenges.

The study found that child-headed families experience various challenges, such as psychosocial needs and lack of financial support. The study recommends that a longitudinal study should be conducted on these children to explore the impact of growing up without parental care on their adult lives.