The Consequences for Preschool Children of a Parent's Detention: A Preliminary South African Clinical Study of Caregivers' Reports

Semi-structured interviews on the consequences for preschool children of a parent's detention were conducted with primary caregivers of 19 South African children aged 2-6 yrs. Caregivers reported emotional problems, separation anxiety and fear as well as physical problems, aggression, secondary enuresis and developmental difficulties. Adaptive mechanisms are described. Fantasies focused chiefly on children's images of the detention situation, and on plans to alter current circumstances. Children who felt secure in the environment seemed generally to adjust better to the experience, particularly in the long term.