Table 2 Attitudes related to fostering, by caregiver group (n = 371)
| Â | A: Foster caregivers (%) | B: Africare parents (%) | C: Control parents (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
Willing to foster:* | Â | Â | Â |
   Grandchild | 92 | 84 | 87 |
   Sister or brother's child | 84 | 82 | 89 |
   Other relative's child | 77 | 73 | 80 |
   Friend's child | 47 | 47 | 46 |
   Neighbor's child | 34 | 36 | 44 |
   Child from community | 31 | 35 | 33 |
   Child from church | 30 | 31 | 30 |
   Child from home region | 28 | 29 | 30 |
   Stranger's child | 26 | 23 | 24 |
   Any child in need | 10 | 3 | 1 |
   Would not foster a child | 1 | 5 | 1 |
Important factors in a fostering decision: | Â | Â | Â |
   How closely the child is related to you | 53 | 49 | 44 |
   Financial resources or assistance | 46 | 55 | 55 |
   Child's health | 21 | 18 | 26 |
   How well you know the child | 16 | 11 | 15 |
   Child's behavior | 15 | 20 | 12 |
   Child's age | 14 | 13 | 18 |
   Child's intelligence | 10 | 11 | 11 |
   Child's gender | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Single most important factor: | Â | Â | Â |
   How closely the child is related to you | 34 | 26 | 34 |
   Financial resources and assistance | 32 | 35 | 25 |
   Child's health | 9 | 12 | 15 |
   Child's age | 7 | 9 | 12 |
   Child's gender | 7 | 2 | 4 |
   Child's plight | 2 | 2 | 3 |
   All are important | 4 | 7 | 4 |
What could prevent fostering suitable child: | Â | Â | Â |
   Nothing could prevent it | 54 | 45 | 43 |
   Lack of financial resources | 40 | 46 | 47 |
   If child is HIV-positive | 7 | 10 | 10 |
   If child is ill | 5 | 8 | 3 |
   If child is disabled | 3 | 8 | 4 |
   Sacrifices biol. children would have to make | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Good reasons, other than financial, not to foster: | Â | Â | Â |
   Will cause problems in household | 29 | 28 | 18 |
   Not my responsibility | 18 | 16 | 19 |
   Don't have strength | 17 | 16 | 15 |
   Child might have HIV/AIDS | 13 | 7 | 16 |
"If taken into good homes, orphans will probably live good, successful lives." | Â | Â | Â |
   Agree | 80 | 85 | 68 |
   Disagree | 15 | 11 | 29 |
Main reason for taking in an orphan: | Â | Â | Â |
   There was no one else to care for the child | 71 | NA | NA |
   Love of the child | 16 |  |  |
   Family duty | 11 |  |  |
Difficulties resulting from fostering: | Â | Â | Â |
   Financial difficulties | 64 |  |  |
   Emotional strain or ill health | 4 | NA | NA |
   No difficulties | 30 |  |  |
Best thing about fostering: | Â | Â | Â |
   Satisfaction of doing your duty | 53 |  |  |
   Satisfaction of helping the child | 37 |  |  |
   Joy of having this child in the family | 22 | NA | NA |
   Material benefits | 11 |  |  |
   Closer relationship with child | 10 |  |  |
   Respect of family and community | 6 |  |  |
   A full life | 4 |  |  |