Protocol for the OCAY study: a cohort study of orphanhood and caregiver loss in the COVID-19 era to explore the impact on children and adolescents
Introduction Globally, no person has been untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, little attention has been given to children and adolescents in policy, provision and services. Moreover, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the impact of COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver loss on chil...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2023-06-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/6/e071023.full |
| _version_ | 1797749094000623616 |
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| author | Lucie D Cluver Mark Tomlinson Lorraine Sherr Sarah Skeen Kathryn J Steventon Roberts Stefani Du Toit Tatenda Mawoyo Christina A Laurenzi |
| author_facet | Lucie D Cluver Mark Tomlinson Lorraine Sherr Sarah Skeen Kathryn J Steventon Roberts Stefani Du Toit Tatenda Mawoyo Christina A Laurenzi |
| author_sort | Lucie D Cluver |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Globally, no person has been untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, little attention has been given to children and adolescents in policy, provision and services. Moreover, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the impact of COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver loss on children. This study aims to provide early insights into the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents experiencing orphanhood or caregiver loss in South Africa.Methods and analysis Data will be drawn from a quantitative longitudinal study in Cape Town, South Africa. A sample of children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 18 years, experiencing parental or caregiver loss from COVID-19, will be recruited together with a comparison group of children in similar environments who did not experience loss. The study aims to recruit 500 children in both groups. Mental health and well-being among children will be explored through the use of validated and study-specific measures. Participants will be interviewed at two time points, with follow-up data being collected 12–18 months after baseline. A combination of analytical techniques (including descriptive statistics, regression modelling and structural equation modelling) will be used to understand the experience and inform future policy and service provision.Ethics and dissemination This study received ethical approval from the Health Research Ethics Committee at Stellenbosch University (N 22/04/040). Results will be disseminated via academic and policy publications, as well as national and international presentations including high-level meetings with technical experts. Findings will also be disseminated at a community level via various platforms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:14:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-339e1a4dc27a4ba1afd75feb432b4b89 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:14:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-339e1a4dc27a4ba1afd75feb432b4b892023-08-09T05:20:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-06-0113610.1136/bmjopen-2022-071023Protocol for the OCAY study: a cohort study of orphanhood and caregiver loss in the COVID-19 era to explore the impact on children and adolescentsLucie D Cluver0Mark Tomlinson1Lorraine Sherr2Sarah Skeen3Kathryn J Steventon Roberts4Stefani Du Toit5Tatenda Mawoyo6Christina A Laurenzi7Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKInstitute for Life Course Health Reseach, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch Univeristy, Stellenbosch, South AfricaInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UKInstitute for Life Course Health Reseach, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch Univeristy, Stellenbosch, South AfricaDepartment of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKInstitute for Life Course Health Reseach, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch Univeristy, Stellenbosch, South AfricaInstitute for Life Course Health Reseach, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch Univeristy, Stellenbosch, South AfricaInstitute for Life Course Health Reseach, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch Univeristy, Stellenbosch, South AfricaIntroduction Globally, no person has been untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, little attention has been given to children and adolescents in policy, provision and services. Moreover, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the impact of COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver loss on children. This study aims to provide early insights into the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents experiencing orphanhood or caregiver loss in South Africa.Methods and analysis Data will be drawn from a quantitative longitudinal study in Cape Town, South Africa. A sample of children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 18 years, experiencing parental or caregiver loss from COVID-19, will be recruited together with a comparison group of children in similar environments who did not experience loss. The study aims to recruit 500 children in both groups. Mental health and well-being among children will be explored through the use of validated and study-specific measures. Participants will be interviewed at two time points, with follow-up data being collected 12–18 months after baseline. A combination of analytical techniques (including descriptive statistics, regression modelling and structural equation modelling) will be used to understand the experience and inform future policy and service provision.Ethics and dissemination This study received ethical approval from the Health Research Ethics Committee at Stellenbosch University (N 22/04/040). Results will be disseminated via academic and policy publications, as well as national and international presentations including high-level meetings with technical experts. Findings will also be disseminated at a community level via various platforms.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/6/e071023.full |
| spellingShingle | Lucie D Cluver Mark Tomlinson Lorraine Sherr Sarah Skeen Kathryn J Steventon Roberts Stefani Du Toit Tatenda Mawoyo Christina A Laurenzi Protocol for the OCAY study: a cohort study of orphanhood and caregiver loss in the COVID-19 era to explore the impact on children and adolescents BMJ Open |
| title | Protocol for the OCAY study: a cohort study of orphanhood and caregiver loss in the COVID-19 era to explore the impact on children and adolescents |
| title_full | Protocol for the OCAY study: a cohort study of orphanhood and caregiver loss in the COVID-19 era to explore the impact on children and adolescents |
| title_fullStr | Protocol for the OCAY study: a cohort study of orphanhood and caregiver loss in the COVID-19 era to explore the impact on children and adolescents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Protocol for the OCAY study: a cohort study of orphanhood and caregiver loss in the COVID-19 era to explore the impact on children and adolescents |
| title_short | Protocol for the OCAY study: a cohort study of orphanhood and caregiver loss in the COVID-19 era to explore the impact on children and adolescents |
| title_sort | protocol for the ocay study a cohort study of orphanhood and caregiver loss in the covid 19 era to explore the impact on children and adolescents |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/6/e071023.full |
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