Children Affected by HIV and AIDS

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is having a devastating impact on the well-being of children, particularly in those countries with the highest HIV prevalence rates in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia. The virus affects children in multiple ways; they may lose one or both parents and other family members, or become infected with the disease.

Aside from the physical and psychosocial stress associated with the onset of the disease itself and the experience of loss of loved ones, children affected by HIV/AIDS may additionally be subjected to the burden of caring for others, stigma, discrimination, exploitation, abuse, financial hardships, and are less likely to attend school. The social and economic effects of the disease means that areas with high AIDS-related mortality are less able to provide traditional family and community care, protection and basic services for its children.

Children with HIV-positive parents are at a greater risk of being orphaned, abandoned, removed by social services, placed into foster or institutional care, becoming homeless, or left to head households on their own. Orphaned children infected with the virus often have more difficulty obtaining care. Families and communities have rallied to provide kinship care to the large majority of the children who have lost their parents, however families and communities are struggling to cope, physically and financially, with the numbers of children involved. Despite international recognition of the damaging effects of institutional care and its high costs, institutional care has proliferated, often supported by external groups wanting to help. Far too little has been done in such countries to systematically strengthen and support HIV/AIDS-affected families and families caring for orphans, or to develop family-and community-based care for children without adequate family care.

Children should be cared for by their immediate and extended families wherever possible, with support services put in place to avoid abandonment. Regulated kinship, foster care, and local adoption should be developed for children without close relatives. Young people and communities should be provided with information on HIV/AIDS to avoid infection. Adequate medical treatment is needed to enable infected parents to live longer and to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child.

The literature in this section includes background information on countries and projects tackling the crises, including statistics, policy papers, implementation projects, and care options for children orphaned or infected by HIV/AIDS.

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Understanding the association between caregiver sex and HIV infection among orphans and vulnerable children in Tanzania: learning from the USAID Kizazi Kipya project

Amon Exavery, John Charles, Erica Kuhlik, Asheri Barankena, Alison Koler, Levina Kikoyo & Elizabeth Jere - BMC Health Services Research, 03 Apr 2020

This study assesses whether sex of the caregiver is associated with HIV status of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as a valuable strategy for enhanced pediatric case findings.

Efficacy of the Extended Family System in Supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Zimbabwe: An Indigenous Knowledge Perspective

Ringson, John and Chereni, Admire - African Journal of Social Work, 20 Feb 2020

This paper examines the efficacy of extended family system in OVC care and support in the Gutu District of Zimbabwe.

The Better Future International’s family care model in Tanzania: Creating social capital as a means to empowerment in social work practice

Barbara Kail, Manoj Pardasani, Robert Chazin - International Social Work, 19 Feb 2020

This article describes the impact on social services of an innovative model of family care in Moshi, Tanzania, aimed at orphaned children and youth who are affected by HIV/AIDS and their caregivers.

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A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of the Drivers of HIV Status Knowledge in Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Mozambique

Allie Davis, Zola Allen, Nena do Nascimento, Jenifer Chapman, Rotafina Donco, Daan Velthausz - Global Health: Science and Practice, 2020

The authors of this study applied fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), based on 119 interviews, to identify the combinations of case management attributes that led to (1) increased knowledge of HIV status, and (2) high percentages of beneficiaries with known HIV status participating in a program that serves orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and their families in Mozambique.

Elderly Grandparents as Caregivers of Children Affected or Infected by HIV and AIDS in Namibia

Eveline N. Kalomo & Simon George Taukeni - Biopsychosocial Perspectives and Practices for Addressing Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases, 2020

This foundational chapter attempts to provide readers with content to assist in their understanding of the characteristics, role, and experiences of kinship elderly caregivers of children affected and/or infected by HIV and AIDS.

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Intervention Measures in Addressing the Needs of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Marondera, Zimbabwe

Tendayi Garutsa & Mfundo Mandla Masuku - e-Bangi Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2020

To investigate the challenges faced in addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children in Marondera, focus group discussions and interviews were utilised. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data in this study and the data was presented in themes.

Care and Support Programmes for Orphans and Vulnerable Children: Achievements and Implications of HIV/AIDS Funded Project in Osun State, Nigeria

Adebola A. Adejimi, et al - World Journal of AIDS, 31 Dec 2019

This paper presents the achievements and implications of HIV Programme Development Project (HPDP) funded by World Bank on care and support services for OVC in Osun State, Nigeria.

Perceptions of Parents/Guardians About the Effectiveness of Future Families Orphans and Vulnerable Children Programme in Olievenhoutbosch, South Africa

Eale E. Kris & Mphuthi David - Global Journal of Health Science, 14 Dec 2019

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of orphans and vulnerable children’s parents/guardians about the effectiveness of Future Families’ children programme in Olievenhoutbosch as a way to explore how much they are involved in the process of designing the programme activities and if they perceive the programme as effective in responding to their family needs.

Clinico-Epidemiological Profile of Children Orphaned due to AIDS Residing in Care Giving Institutions in Coastal South India

Rekha Thapar, et al - AIDS Research and Treatment, 03 Nov 2019

In this cross-sectional study 86 children orphaned by AIDS residing in care giving institutions for HIV positive children in Mangalore were assessed for their clinico-epidemiological profile and nutritional status.

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A Systematic Review of the Mental Health of Orphans and Vulnerable Children within the Context of HIV/AIDS in Africa

Paul Narh Doku, Kofi Mensah Akohene, Mark Kwame Ananga and Timothy Pritchard Debrah - International Journal of Psychiatry, 11 Oct 2019

This systematic review provides a synthesis of empirical findings related to mental Health of Orphans and Vulnerable Children within the context of HIV/AIDS in developing countries.