Orphanhood and Schooling in South Africa: Trends in the Vulnerability of Orphans between 1993 and 2005

A study was conducted to examine the trends in the vulnerability of orphans between 1993 and 2005 in South Africa. The key contribution is to assess the extent to which this vulnerability has changed over time as the AIDS crisis deepens in South Africa. A maternal orphan is defined as a child whose mother is deceased and whose father is known to be alive, while a paternal orphan as a child whose father is deceased and whose mother is known to be alive. Child-headed households will be underrepresented in the data since interviewers are typically instructed to interview a knowledgeable adult about the household. Non-orphaned children are substantially more likely to be living with their mothers than their fathers, and child fostering is common. There has been a substantial increase in the percentage of maternal, paternal, and double orphans living in households headed by a grandparent.