THE ROLES OF SOCIAL AUXILIARY WORKERS IN DROP-IN-CENTRES: ADDRESSING THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN LIVING WITH HIV

Abstract

South Africa bears the largest burden of children living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. These children battle with multiple vulnerabilities in their lives. This qualitative study explored the roles of ten purposively sampled social auxiliary workers in addressing the biopsychosocial needs of children living with HIV at drop-in centres in Sedibeng District Municipality, South Africa. The study concluded that many of the biopsychosocial needs that children living with HIV face are not being comprehensively addressed. The study proposes the capacitation of social auxiliary workers on paediatric HIV and the biopsychosocial approach as well as improved funding for drop-in centres to increase the depth of services rendered to, and address the growing needs of, children living with HIV.