A descriptive study of infants’ emotional status in foster care placement in a welfare organisation in Cape Town
Date
2021-03
Authors
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
Background: There is an increasing number of children in South Africa who need alternative placement for their care and protection. The prevalence of emotional abuse in infants and toddlers is difficult to discern. There is no consensus in South Africa on how to assess the mental status of children who are considered for placement into foster care. Aim: To describe the emotional status of infants/toddlers when they are placed in emergency foster care. Methods: Infants /toddlers were recruited from BADISA in Kuilsriver, Cape Town. The psychological assessment of the infant/toddlers included an unstructured interview of their caregivers after they were removed from their biological mothers. The infant’s mental health status was screened for using the Basic Infant Mental Health Screening and the Mental Health Screening (0 – 5) tools. Results: Nine infants/toddlers were included in this study, six girls and three boys, whose ages ranged from 0-5years. An association was noted between parental worry and infant (p = 0.048), with foster parents of the boys in the sample reported being more worried. The parents often described their infants as presenting with uncontrollable behaviour rather than being depressed or withdrawn. We also noted that infants and toddlers who were exposed to parental drug abuse, as opposed to those who were physically abused in their family of origin, were younger (p=0.025). While those who experienced sexual abuse were younger than those who were exposed to drug abuse (p=0.046) in their family of origin.
Conclusion: This study highlights the occurrence of emotional problems in infants in foster care. The parents were more worried about the infants’ emotional status than their behaviours. There is a need for early screening for emotional abuse to allow for early intervention. Initial results support the need for future larger prospective studies.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar
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Keywords
Cape Town, Kuilsriver, UCTD, Emotions in infants, Child placing, Foster care -- Screening, Children -- Institutional care