The Framework for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children living in a world with HIV and AIDS defines current agreement on programming strategies for children affected by HIV and AIDS. However, some programmers question whether the Framework guidelines, based on the experience of Eastern and Southern Africa, are equally appropriate in all regions.
This short paper describes the primary challenges for children affected by HIV and AIDS across different regions and touches on regional differences relevant to programming. The author suggests that the probability of a child being made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS is driven by three factors: HIV prevalence, access to antiretroviral treatment, and poverty. While children in high prevalence countries stand a higher chance of being affected outside of their household, children in low prevalence countries may face increased vulnerability due to heightened stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, a lack of resource commitment to treatment, care, and prevention, or an inability to recognize and mitigate the social impacts of the epidemic. In conclusion, the author suggests that the guidelines set out in the Framework are appropriate across regional settings but will require varied emphasis in implementation, depending the particular needs and expectations of a population.
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