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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Children in Islam

Al Azhar University and UNICEF, 2005

An overview of child rights and protection as it relates to the central tenets of Islam. Contains brief information on alternative care, children affected by HIV/AIDS, protection from abuse, and other issues.

Education Access and Retention for Educationally Marginalised Children: Innovations in Social Protection

Peter Badcock-Walters, Marelize Görgens, Wendy Heard, Patience Mukwashi, Rose Smart, Jill Tomlinson, and Daniel Wilson, 2005

This paper provides a comprehensive contextual overview of the educational challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa. It includes recommendations for future education policy in the context of HIV and AIDS, as well as provides country specific data on current policies and social protection programs.

Facing the Crisis: Supporting Children Through Positive Care Options

David Tolfree, 2005

A paper with guidelines for keeping children with families and providing proper care and protection for them. It provides examples and plans for those interested in planning care for separated children.

Hope Implementation Guide: Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

World Vision HIV/AIDS Hope Initiative, 2005

Detailed guidance on implementation of programs for OVC care. Includes list of technical resource contacts. Complement to the World Vision ADP Toolkit for HIV/AIDS Programming.

A Strange Illness: Issues and Research by Children Affected by HIV/AIDS in Central China

Andy West and Zhang Hui, 2005

A participatory report of concerns raised by children affected by HIV/AIDS in central China. Uses children’s responses to identify child vulnerabilities and suggest appropriate future action.

Investing in the Children of the Islamic World

UNICEF, 2005

This report presents an overview of the Millennium Development Goals and ‘A World Fit for Children’ commitments, the situation of children in the Islamic world, and the constraints and challenges facing children in the region in regards to health, education, poverty, child protection, and HIV/AIDS. The report asks “are we fulfilling our commitment to children?”

Towards Social Welfare Services for All Vulnerable Children in South Africa: A Review of Policy Development, Budgeting and Service Delivery

Judith Streak and Sasha Poggenpoel , 2005

This paper provides an overview of the policy framework and financing of social welfare services in South Africa. Current budgeting and service delivery practices are discussed, as well as obstacles and recommendations for advanced action.

Integrated Care for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children: A Toolkit for Community Service Providers

Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, 2005

This Toolkit is a companion volume to the Ugandan Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development’s OVC Training Manual. It contains practical information and tools to help Community Service Providers in Uganda translate the national OVC guidelines into action.

The Promise of a Future: Strengthening Family and Community Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Sub-Saharan Africa

Kerry Olson, Ruth Messinger, Laura Sutherland, and Jennifer Astone , 2005

A brief document advocating for the strengthening and support of community based responses to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Orphans and Discrimination in Mozambique: An Outlay Equivalence Analysis

Virgulino Nhate, Channing Arndt, Mikkel Barslund and Katleen Van den Broeck, 2005

This paper examines childcare policy in Mozambique. It finds that vulnerability increases when orphans are placed in resource-poor kinship care arrangements.