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. 2013 Nov:24:23-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.08.004. Epub 2013 Aug 22.

Housing conditions and mental health of orphans in South Africa

Lochner Marais  1 , Carla Sharp, Michele Pappin, Molefi Lenka, Jan Cloete, Donald Skinner, Joe Serekoane
Affiliations

Housing conditions and mental health of orphans in South Africa

Lochner Marais et al. Health Place. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Literature from the developed world suggests that poor housing conditions and housing environments contribute to poor mental health outcomes, although research results are mixed. This study investigates the relationship between housing conditions and the socio-emotional health of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in South Africa. The results of the study are mainly inconclusive, although it is suggested that methodological considerations play a vital role in explaining the mixed results. However, a positive relationship was found between living in informal settlements and better socio-emotional health of the OVC. We speculate that the historical context of informal settlement formation in South Africa helps to explain this unexpected result.

Keywords: Housing conditions; Informal settlements; Mental health; Orphans.

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