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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Child Protection and Children Affected by AIDS: A Companion Paper to Framework for the Protection, Care and the Support of OVC

UNICEF, 2006

This paper provides more detailed information on the provisions that should be in place in relation to the state social welfare sector, social protection, legal protection and justice, and alternative care. It also addresses the need to combat the stigma of abuse and HIV and AIDS.

A Study of Integrated Interventions for Children Made Vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in Haiti: A Case Study of La Maison l'Arc-en-Ciel

Mark Louden, 2006

Examines a community-based care program for children living with HIV in Haiti called Arc-en-Ciel. Includes an overview of services provided (residential care, home based care, and community mobilization) and lessons learned.

MGLSD and Districts Capacity Assessment Scores and the Methodology Used to Determine the Scores

Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, 2006

The methodology and tools used to score a capacity assessment to determine Uganda's MGLSD and district management capacity needs to provide leadership and coordination of the national response to OVC and AB/Y.

Lesotho: Guidelines & Standards: Residential Care For Vulnerable Children & Youth

UNICEF, 2006

A situational analysis of policy and care surrounding children affected by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho. Includes a comprehensive, practice-oriented discussion of alternatives to residential care, placement procedures and standards of residential care.

Africa's Orphaned and Vulnerable Generations: Children Affected by AIDS

UNICEF, UNAIDS and PEPFAR, 2006

This report contains new and improved research and statistical infortmation on orphans and vulnerable children, including what governments, NGO's, the private sector and the international community can do to better respond.

Legal and Policy Frameworks to Protect the Rights Of Vulnerable Children in Southern Africa

Save the Children UK South Africa Programme, 2006

Reviews legal and policy frameworks for the protection of OVC rights in 10 Southern African countries. Includes key concerns and recommendations. Appendix includes country-specific details of National Policies on Orphans and Vulnerable Children and National Plans of Action.

Young Children and HIV: Strengthening Family and Community Support

International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 2006

Practical guidance on dealing with young children in the context of HIV/AIDS. Focuses on the developmental needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS. Also focuses on care and treatment provision for children who are HIV-positive.

Positively Abandoned: Stigma and Discrimination against HIV-Positive Mothers and their Children in Russia

Human Rights Watch, 01 Jun 2005

Russia is home to one of the fastest-growing AIDS epidemics in the world, but the government has done little to address the problem.

Poverty, Vulnerability, and HIV/AIDS Mainstreaming in Lesotho: Livelihoods Recovery Through Agriculture Program and Secure the Child

Joanne Abbot, Mosele Lenka, PJ Lerotholi, Makojang Mahao, and Sechaba Mokhamaleli, 2005

A description of a multi-level intervention in rural Lestho aimed to improve the livelihood security of vulnerable households by improving home gardening, increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS, and influencing policy. By focusing on rural livelihoods and economic empowerment the program had some success in raising awareness and strengthening resilience to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Economic Strengthening Activities Benefiting Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Africa: Mapping of Field Programs

Carolyn Barnes, 2005

This paper identifies programs in sub-Saharan Africa focused on economic strengthening interventions, and analyzes their approaches and impact on orphans and vulnerable children. Interventions focused on savings and lending groups, micro-leasing, market linkages and household gardening appear to be particularly effective.