NGO psychosocial support, unresolved grief and depression among AIDS orphans

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to examine the level of unresolved grief and depression between the supported and the non-supported AIDS orphans. Eighty AIDS orphans receiving support, and 80 who were not yet supported participated in this study. Results revealed that AIDS orphans from both the supported and the non-supported group showed high levels of unresolved grief, and the non-supported group were more depressed than the supported. The study highlighted that the more unresolved grief they had, the more depressed they were. In general, AIDS orphans in Uganda continue to battle with unresolved grief and depression long after the bereavement. The importance of adequate NGO psychosocial support was highlighted.