HIV/AIDS Orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa

More than twenty-five million people have died from AIDS since it
was first recognized in 1981, making it one of the most destructive
epidemics in history. It is undeniable however, that sub-Saharan
Africa is the hardest hit and most affected area in the world. Of
the global 2.9 million AIDS related deaths in 2007, 72% occurred in
this area. AIDS has devastated the social and economic framework of
societies in sub-Saharan Africa by mostly infecting people in the
age group of 15-49, while 63% of the 40 million people living with
HIV/AIDS today live in Sub-Saharan Africa. What is also startling
is that, of the 2.9 million people who died from AIDS in 2007 one
in seven was children. HIV/AIDS also has many indirect effects.
Children of HIV positive parents compose the largest group of
secondary sufferers. Africa is home to 95% of the world’s 13
million children orphaned as a result of AIDS. It is estimated that
by 2010 a third of African children will be orphaned.

Caring for these orphans has become a severe humanitarian disaster.
With the rapidly increasing numbers it is difficult to care and
provide for all of these children. However, the potential for these
children to form a large group of dysfunctional adults, which could
further destabilize societies already weakened by AIDS, has
increased the urgency of finding an effective solution to the
crisis. The response to the problem has been unsustainable given
the number of children that need aide. In Zimbabwe, fewer than
4,000 orphans out of an estimated 800,000 are accommodated in the
country’s 45 registered institutions.

As an entire generation is being devastated by HIV/AIDS, major
secondary effects are occurring on the children watching it all
unfold. These impacts arise in a number of overlapping ways,
including, economic consequences, changes in position of caregiver,
education, nutrition, long term psychological effects, and even the
likelihood of infection. What overarches all of these is how
children psychologically process and respond to the stresses
HIV/AIDS adds to their lives. It is important to focus on the
psychological impact on a child who is forced to drop out of
school, who must care for themselves and younger siblings, and face
losing a parent or family member. These psychological effects are
what lead children to destructive or with drawn behaviors that
could make them more likely to become infected. If an attempt is
made to better understand what these children are experiencing, it
may be possible to reach them on a level that would help encourage
them to protect themselves from the dangers of HIV/AIDS.

A child’s age effects not only how they respond to and understand
AIDS as a disease but in what ways they are most affected.
Pre-school aged children show the primary effects on growth and
health in relation to losing a caregiver. School-aged children show
more effects related to loss of education and therefore the
development of a vulnerability to internalization and anti-social
behaviors. It appears in several studies that children over the age
of ten years are most vulnerable to becoming orphaned, but are a
group neither specifically targeted by many current programs nor
institutions that house affected children. In these cases family,
community, or school based intervention is essential.

The loss of a parent or loved one generally speaking is associated
with psychological conditions including anxiety, rumination,
depression, social isolation, survivor’s guilt and low self esteem.
Mel Freeman, former director of Mental Health and Substance abuse
in the South African Department of Health, states that children
after losing a parent will have difficulties with modeling,
boundary setting and development of value systems necessary for
moral development; as well as the support, caring and discipline
needed for emotional stability. If children have problems figuring
out how to set boundaries and develop moral standards then it is
likely they will also be at a higher risk for HIV infection. This
secondary impact of HIV/AIDS is a catastrophic one because it will
cause a whole new generation to be at an even higher risk and only
further the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Orphaned children have an increased
incidence of internalized psychological problems, and 34% of AIDS
related orphans have contemplated suicide within the year after
their parent or parents’ death.

In response to preventing the majority of psychological disorders
and their related effects, the main goal is to postpone the death
of a parent. When extending the life of the parents, you increase
his or her chance to complete school and possess the proper
mechanism to establish a sound value system. Nearly one half of
children who lose a parent to HIV/AIDS drop out of school. This is
a secondary impact that can be reduced by attempting to supply more
infected people with ARV treatment that is both successful and
easily attainable. It will both extend their life span and improve
the quality of life for their children.