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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Overview of Services for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Ethiopia

Tsegaye Chernet, 2001

A report on a workshop that was presented in Rwanda that sought to share the experiences of of Ethiopia in caring for orphan and vulnerable children. The aim was to provide lessons to colleagues in Rwanda and elsewhere. The report includes statistical data, information on reunification programs, and reviews recent government and NGO policy shifts.

Transitioning From Institutional Care of Orphans to Community-Based Care: The Experience of Ethiopia's Jerusalem Association Children's Homes

Mulugeta Gebru and Rebecca Atnafou, 2001

An account of Jerusalem Association Children’s Homes’ work involving deinstitutionalization of orphaned children in Ethiopia. The report is a summary of the steps taken by this organization to reunify/reintegrate the children into their families and society and some next steps are also mentioned.

Child Needs Assessment Tool Kit

N/A, 2001

A comprehensive tool kit providing a methodology, questionnaire and software for assessing the needs of young children affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Used to help design of service programs, secure funding, and monitor and evaluate programs specifically targeting the needs of young children and their families.

Care For Orphans, Children Affected By HIV/AIDS And Other Vulnerable Children

Family Health International, 2001

A summary of comprehensive care needs for children affected by AIDS. Includes several case studies which highlight key components of comprehensive program design, implementation and evaluation.

Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children: What Role for Social Protection?

Anthony Levine (Editor), 2001

A report recording the proceedings of a conference co-sponsored by the World Bank and World Vision. The two-day conference sought to promote awareness of OVC issues around the world, to provide practitioners with a forum to share best practices and other insights, and to probe the role of social protection in implementing a balanced response. Participants included but were not limited to: community and donor organizations, NGOs.

Orphan Alert: International Perspectives on Children Left Behind by HIV/AIDS

Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Foundation, 2000

This report includes articles by researchers and practitioners on orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi and India. It was prepared for the International AIDS Conference held in Durban in July 2000, and aimed to raise awareness and facilitate effective action for children affected by HIV/AIDS.

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Finding a Way Forward: Principles and Strategies to Reduce the Impacts of AIDS on Children and Families

John Williamson, 2000

Provides a multi-level approach for the analysis and development of context-specific interventions in communities affected by HIV/AIDS epidemic. Includes discussion of microfinance services, and highlights several community-based programs.

What Can We Do to Make a Difference? Situation Analysis Concerning Children and Families Affected by AIDS

John Williamson, 2000

Systematically outlines process of situation analysis with specific attention to children and families affected by AIDS. Includes reference list of example analyses and other relevant materials.

The Problem of Street Children in Africa: An Ignored Tragedy

Peter Kopoka, 2000

Examines initiatives taken to protect street children in Africa. Emphasis on increasing community and NGO participation in local responses.

Children Orphaned by AIDS: Front-Line Responses from Eastern and Southern Africa

UNICEF, 1999

A publication on the global emergency of the AIDS pandemic and the crisis it creates among the children left behind. In an effort to protect vulnerable children, examples of country responses from Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe are highlighted. Includes recommendations for strategic action.