Secondary school is a period during which risk
of school dropout is highest. To date, little research has
examined reasons for school dropout amongst HIV/
AIDS-orphaned children, who are affected economically,
psychosocially and educationally. HIV/AIDS orphanhood
can perpetuate poverty and increase school dropout in a
range of ways, including inability to pay school fees,
family disruption and stigma. Related research mostly
focuses on school performance and completion and,
more recently, on context-specific approaches to measure
educational outcomes. The primary aim of this qualitative
study was to examine how HIV/AIDS orphanhood
influences participation in secondary education in South
Africa and to investigate why some HIV/AIDS-orphaned
adolescents find it easier to stay in school than others.
Specifically, the study aimed to explore, interpret and
elicit the perceptions of South African HIV/AIDSorphaned
adolescents (N=243, aged 13–22, 53 % female,
47 % male) towards potential risk and protective factors
influencing their secondary school attendance. Findings
suggest complex and interconnecting multiple risk factors
such as poverty pre- and post-parental death, crisisfosterage
often accompanied by further traumatic events,
changing schools sporadically, recurring household migration
and forced employment all of which can create
obstacles to secondary education. Protective factors that
emerged included extra-curricular activities and teacher/
community support. These findings highlight the need
for evidence-informed school and community policies,
which consider the effects of household poverty, migration
and living arrangements, if secondary school participation
for HIV/AIDS-orphaned adolescents is to be promoted
and sustained