Almost one-fifth of children in South Africa have lost a parent; many have experienced multiple losses. Bereaved children are at increased risk for psychological health problems including maladaptive grief and depression. Despite the scale of need, evidence for effective psychological support services is limited.
Children and adolescents affected by HIV are at elevated risk for depression, yet research on related interventions in this population is scarce in sub-Saharan Africa. This study sought to examine the effects of interpersonal psychotherapy for groups (IPTG) on depressive symptomology among orphaned and vulnerable adolescents in South Africa—home to the world’s largest HIV epidemic.
Community-based care and support programmes for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) and their families are a critical component of HIV prevention, care and treatment efforts worldwide. Addressing the challenges that confront programme evaluators in these contexts can help promote robust evidence for effective programming.