scholarly journals Challenges faced by households in caring for orphans and vulnerable children

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Orphans And Vulnerable Children ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
Nelson Mandela ◽  
To Come ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Hiv Aids

South Africa has seen a rapid increase in HIV prevalence among the general population over the past ten years, from less than 1 percent in 1990 to 20 percent in 2001. As the HIV/AIDS epidemic increases, so do the number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). In 2002, an estimated five million people were living with HIV/AIDS. Because of the average 10-year period between infection and death, even if HIV prevalence declined rapidly, South Africa would still experience an increasing orphan burden for many years to come. By 2010, 16 percent of all children in South Africa will be orphans with more than 70 percent due to AIDS. The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund initiated the Goelama Project, which uses a community mobilization strategy to catalyze action by local organizations and government bodies to prevent HIV infection and mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of the disease, particularly as they affect OVC. This brief highlights key findings from a study of 29,000 members of nearly 5,000 households in eight study sites to identify ways that government and communities can strengthen the socioeconomic capacity of households to care for and support OVC.

scholarly journals Vulnerability and intervention opportunities: Research findings on youth and HIV/AIDS in South Africa

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Reproductive Behaviors ◽  
Orphans And Vulnerable Children ◽  
Community Activities ◽  
Nelson Mandela ◽  
Hiv Aids

The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) seeks comprehensive local solutions to address the negative effects of HIV/AIDS on children, adolescents, households, and communities. To this end, NMCF initiated the Goelama Project, which uses a community mobilization strategy to catalyze action by local organizations and government bodies to prevent HIV infection and mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of the disease, particularly as they affect orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). This brief highlights key findings from an assessment of reproductive and sexual health knowledge and behaviors among nearly 5,000 youth from eight districts in three provinces in South Africa where the Goelama Project is active: Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and KwaZulu Natal. This research is part of a larger study of 29,000 members of nearly 5,000 households that seeks to identify ways that government and communities can strengthen the socioeconomic capacity of households to care for and support OVC. The youth component focuses on the sexual and reproductive behaviors of young people in the Goelama intervention areas and factors that may influence these behaviors, such as schooling, orphanhood, knowledge, and involvement in community activities.

scholarly journals The Burden of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Due to HIV/AIDS in Cameroon

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dickson S Nsagha ◽  
Anne-Cécile ZK Bissek ◽  
Sarah M Nsagha ◽  
Jules-Clement N Assob ◽  
Henri-Lucien F Kamga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Integrated Care ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Orphans And Vulnerable Children ◽  
Aids Orphans ◽  
Hiv Aids

HIV/AIDS is a major public health problem in Cameroon and Africa, and the challenges of orphans and vulnerable children are a threat to child survival, growth and development. The HIV prevalence in Cameroon was estimated at 5.1% in 2010. The objective of this study was to assess the burden of orphans and vulnerable children due to HIV/AIDS in Cameroon. A structured search to identify publications on orphans and other children made vulnerable by AIDS was carried out. A traditional literature search on google, PubMed and Medline using the keywords: orphans, vulnerable children, HIV/AIDS and Cameroon was conducted to identify potential AIDS orphans publications, we included papers on HIV prevalence in Cameroon, institutional versus integrated care of orphans, burden of children orphaned by AIDS and projections, impact of AIDS orphans on Cameroon, AIDS orphans assisted through the integrated care approach, and comparism of the policies of orphans care in the central African sub-region. We also used our participatory approach working experience with traditional rulers, administrative authorities and health stakeholders in Yaounde I and Yaounde VI Councils, Nanga Eboko Health District, Isangelle and Ekondo Titi Health Areas, Bafaka-Balue, PLAN Cameroon, the Pan African Institute for Development-West Africa, Save the orphans Foundation, Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Public Health. Results show that only 9% of all OVC in Cameroon are given any form of support. AIDS death continue to rise in Cameroon. In 1995, 7,900 people died from AIDS in the country; and the annual number rose to 25,000 in 2000. Out of 1,200,000 orphans and vulnerable children in Cameroon in 2010, 300,000(25%) were AIDS orphans. Orphans and the number of children orphaned by AIDS has increased dramatically from 13,000 in 1995 to 304,000 in 2010. By 2020, this number is projected to rise to 350,000. These deaths profoundly affect families, which often are split up and left without any means of support. Similarly, the death of many people in their prime working years hamper the economy. Businesses are adversely affected due to the need to recruit and train new staff. Health and social service systems suffer from the loss of health workers, teachers, and other skilled workers. OVC due to HIV/AIDS are a major public health problem in Cameroon as the HIV prevalence continues its relentless increase with 141 new infections per day. In partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs and other development organizations, the Ministry of Public Health has been striving hard to provide for the educational and medical needs of the OVC, vocational training for the out-of- school OVC and income generating activities for foster families and families headed by children. A continous multi-sectorial approach headed by the government to solve the problem of OVC due to AIDS is very important. In line with the foregoing, recommendations are proposed for the way forward.

Case Study: Memory Work with Children Affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Denis
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Oral History ◽  
Narrative Therapy ◽  
Life Story ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Memory Work ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
Story Work ◽  
Oral History Interview ◽  
Hiv Aids

This article focuses on working with children affected by HIV/AIDS in South Arica. In the early years of the AIDS epidemic, relief organizations focused their efforts on the material needs of children, but their psychological and emotional needs are no less important. Recognizing this, the Sinomlando Centre for Oral History and Memory Work in Africa, a research and community development center located at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, in Pietermaritzburg South Africa, has pioneered a model of psychosocial intervention for children in grief—particularly but not exclusively in the context of HIV/AIDS. This model uses the methodology of oral history in a novel manner, combined with other techniques such as life story work and narrative therapy. During the early years of the project, the model followed for the family visits was the oral history interview. A discussion on caregiver as the narrator and skills required in memory work especially in these cases concludes this article.

scholarly journals The social construction of HIV/AIDS

2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Goldstein ◽  
H G Pretorius ◽  
A D Stuart
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Full Text ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
Hiv Aids

An in-depth look is taken at the specific discourses surrounding the debilitating HIV/AIDS epidemic sweeping South Africa and the world. Opsomming Hierdie artikel poog om ‘n indiepte ondersoek te loods na die spesifieke diskoerse rondom die MIV/VIGS epidemie in Suid-Afrika en die wêreld. *Please note: This is a reduced version of the abstract. Please refer to PDF for full text.

scholarly journals HIV/AIDS in South Africa: an overview

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 651-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah Gilbert ◽  
Liz Walker
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
One Dimension ◽  
Environmental Model ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
Societal Response ◽  
The Social ◽  
Hiv Aids

This paper presents an overview of the development of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, taking into consideration the social context and analyzing the factors most likely to have influenced its spread as well as the societal response to it. The authors argue that macro factors such as social and political structures, in addition to behavioral ones, have combined to shape the course of the epidemic. Since various factors linked to social inequalities have combined to shape the pattern and growth of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa, it is inappropriate to focus on only one dimension in an attempt to combat the epidemic. Following the psycho-socio- environmental model, all potential contributing elements need to be addressed simultaneously. This calls for a true interdisciplinary and multi-sectorial approach. It also requires great commitment as well as strong political will.

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