Charting and interpreting the data

The data that was coded in the previous stage was then lifted from its original textual context and placed in charts that consist of the headings and sub headings that were drawn during the thematic framework in the manner that was seen as the best way to report the research (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994; Ritchie & Spencer, 2002). The identification of the original data source was maintained in the analytical process.

The final interpretation was guided by the following three colon headings: coded text, dimensions identified, and analytical categories (Ritchie & Spencer, 2002). The following example illustrated the coding process from the sub-group of orphans (after ten interviews) and how the categories were related in the analysis of how orphans viewed their situation leaving two text examples for each dimension (Figure 4.8).

Table 4.8: Example illustrating coding process and analysis: Analysis of how children who lost both parents viewed their situation

Coded Text Dimensions

Identified Analytical category The sickness began when my parents were killed. I

don't feel comfortable and when I am thinking a lot about what has happened to my parents I fall sick.

Whenever I am beaten and locked away I remember the event and I get very weak and I cry a lot and then I have a bad headache, my whole body gets hot and I cannot even walk and get up anymore; than it goes away after one night. This is what worries me. There is no medicine for what I have.

RISK

FACING THE SITUATION When I was sick last time I went to the hospital but

they did not have the medicine and they told me to go to the pharmacy and buy the medicine. I got a prescription. I went home and the women I am staying with told me:” Did you bring any money from your home to this home?” how can you expect me now to give you something?” I said that the people from the hospital told me to go home and get five [Sudanese] pounds for the medicine. But she did not give me anything she said:” the money I am earning is not for you, I even use it to buy food for us; how can you ask me to give you more money. Where do you think I can get that money?” I did not get any medicine and I had a high fever and joint pain, only God could help me.

There is only one thing important that can change our situation, this is education, there is no hope without education, it will be better to die. If we are educated we can become good people and we can be independent from others. We can have enough food and our own tukul and we will be respected again.

HOPE I am happy because I am still alive and may be

somebody can come and help us one day, this is my hope.

I would just take my little brother if this [orphan school] became a place to stay if I can be educated it will be the only way to be respected again in the community. I want to proof that I can be as smart as children with parents and when we are grown up we can tell the people that we can be the same even when

our parents are dead. STRENGTH

Even if my father is dead and all the other family members I am still alive and want to do something with my life. This is why I am here and go to school.

I am worried that I get killed one day and when I am dead there is nobody to take care of the wife of my uncle who is very sick. She is a good person [...] I always worry for her. If there is an orphanage, I can also take her to the orphanage if there is food and

shelter we can be together. VALUE

It is not good to steal other people’s property. I want to become a good person who can take care of a family without stealing from other people.

Coded Text (continued) Dimensions Identified

Analytical category I am not happy at all because without parents there is

nothing for a child that can ever make a child happy again; we do not belong to the community anymore. My grandmother is very old but there is nobody else we can go, she can still cook and I help her with bringing firewood and fetching water, I can do the hard work. I am well treated by my grandmother but she cannot protect me because she is too weak.

PROTECTION

EVADING HARM Sometimes they tell me to work and not to go to

school, but I refuse and I just go, if I cannot go to school I have no life and nobody will ever respect me if I am not educated and can give something to the new family. They tell me to do work and I say no I need to go to school. When I come back they tell me: “why do you refuse to work?” I tell them:” how can I leave the school because of the work?” They beat me, but if the neighbour is there she will say: “why do

you beat this child, let this child go to school, it is important for all children to go to school!” Without my neighbour I would be beaten up every day for going to school.

I stay separate from the children with parents because they abuse me and insult me. This is why I isolate myself as much as I can from other people.

HARM REDUCTION When I went to the normal school I was beaten by two

girls and I did not fight back, but I went to the teacher. He said: “what do you want? You have no parents!” And then he also beats me. This is when I thought it will be better for me to go to the orphan school.

If I fall sick the wife of my uncle will not agree to take me to the hospital. She tells me: ”you can go alone.” When I am at the hospital they ask me: ”where is your mother, how can I know your sickness if your mother cannot tell me? How can I identify what you are suffering from?” Then I will end up not getting any medicine. If I say my parents are dead they may beat me. It is better for me not to return.

STIGMA

MANAGEMENT When I am beaten by the women [guardian in foster

home] there is nobody who can rescue me, the neighbours will just keep quiet and do her things while this women is beating me. This people they don't help me. I get beaten every day and nobody is helping me. For example when I go back from school the women will beat me because I am not allowed to go to school and I should be working all the time. When I come home they will ask me:” where have you been?” when I say in school, she will be very angry. Sometimes I do not want to go home anymore I just want to stay here in this place [at the orphan school] where I am safe. I will only need shelter and little food and a good guardian, like the teachers and nobody from the orphans would ever go to their homes again until we are grown up and can defend ourselves.