6 - Children at Risk: A Study of the Psychosocial Impact of HIV on Orphans and other Vulnerable Children in Benin
Corresponding Author(s) : Dan W. Meyrowitsch
Africa Development,
Vol. 33 No. 3 (2008): Africa Development
Abstract
This paper describes the effect of parental HIV on the life of children in Benin. A total of 2,043 children aged from 10 to 16 were surveyed on health, diet, violence, school attendance and psychosocial state. The results indicate that, while Beninese children who have had a parent living with HIV are not necessarily subjected to different economic and material conditions than those who have not, they do experience a much greater lack of psychosocial support. In contrast to children whose parents are not known to have HIV, these affected children are less prone to general illness (OR=0.69, 95 per cent CI 0.55-0.86). However, when they are sick, HIV-affected children are significantly more likely to undertake self-treatment (OR=1.38; 95 per cent CI 1.04-1.86) and more likely to work (OR=1.65, 95 per cent CI 1.04-2.60). They are also offered fewer meals than unaffected children (OR=1.94; 95 per cent CI 1.52-2.47). With respect to psychosocial fac- tors, the data suggest that children who have had a parent with HIV have signifi- cantly higher levels of psychological distress than those who have not. Govern- ments and civil society organisations need to address not only the material deprivation, especially hunger, of children thus affected by HIV, but also their need for social services.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- Adato, M., Kadiyala, S., Roopnaraine, T., Biermayr-Jenzano, P. and Norman, A., 2005, Children in the Shadow of AIDS: Studies of Vulnerable Children and Orphans in Three Provinces in South Africa, International Food Policy Research Institute.
- Amadou, M. and Sero Koto, S., 2001, Les Talibés au Nord du Bénin enfance malheureuse : un mode de vie choisi, PIED ONG.
- Anti-Slavery, 2000, Trafficking of Children Between Benin and Gabon, Submission to United Nations Commission on Human Rights, www.anitslavery.org/archive/submission/submission2000-Benin.htm."
- Atwine, B., Cantor-Graae, E. and Bajunirwe, F., 2005, ‘Psychological Distress Among AIDS Orphans in Rural Uganda’, Social Science and Medicine 57 (2005) 555–564.
- Banque Mondiale, 2004, Boite à outils pour l’ASS: Une boite à outils pour la prise en charge des orphelins et enfants vulnérables (OEV) en Afrique sub- saharienne (ASS), 1st Edition, December 2004 www.worldbank.org/ovctoolkit
- Banque Mondiale, 2001, Les orphelins du SIDA au Bénin: analyse de situation et proposition d’actions, Cotonou, Washington, September 2001.
- Barnet, T. and Whiteside, A., 2002, AIDS in the Twenty-First Century: Disease and Globalization, Palgrave Macmillan.
- Beegle, C., De Weerdt, J. and Dercon, S., 2005, Orphanhood and the Long-run Impact on Children, World Bank.
- Benotsch, E. G., Stevenson, Y., Sitzler, C. A., Kelly, A. J., Makhaye, G., Mathey, E. D., Somlai, A. M., Brown, K. D., Amirkhanian, Y., Fernandezl, I. and Opgenorth, K. M., 2004, ‘HIV Prevention in Africa: Programs and Populations Served by Non- Governmental Organizations’, Journal of Community Health Vol. 29(4) 319–336.
- Birdthistle, I. J., Floyd, S., Machingura, A., Mudziwapasi, N., Gregson, S. and Glynn, J. R., 2008, ‘From Affected to Infected? Orphanhood and HIV Risk among Female Adolescents in Urban Zimbabwe’ in AIDS, 30 March 2008, 22(6):759–66.
- Birdthistle, I., 2004, ‘Understanding the Needs of Orphans and Other Children Affected by HIV and AIDS in Africa: State of the Science’, working draft, April 2004, prepared by the Support for Analysis and Research in Africa (SARA) project, operated by the Academy for Educational Development for United States Agency for International Development, Washington, D.C.,
- Boko Nadjo, G., 2004, ‘Le code des personnes et de la famille Béninois’, Presentation at NGO Forum, Addis Ababa, (http://www.wildaf-ao.org/fr/IMG/doc/Boko_Nadjo_FR.doc).
- Brown, L., Trujillo, L. and Macintyre, K., 2001, ‘Interventions to Reduce HIV/ AIDS Stigma: What Have We Learned?’, Horizons Program, Tulane University, http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/horizons/litrvwstigdisc.pdf
- Campbell, C., Foulis, C. A., Maimane, S. and Sibiya, Z., 2005, ‘I Have an Evil Child at My House: Stigma and HIV/AIDS Management in a South African Community’, American Journal of Public Health, May 2005, 95:808–815.
- Donadje, F. and Soton, A., 2004, ‘Genre et VIH/SIDA au Bénin: une synthèse de la collecte de données, Présentation donnée lors de la conférence « Santé de la reproduction au Nord et au Sud, de la connaissance à l’action », Louvain-La- Neuve (Belgium), 17-20 November 2004, www.demo.ucl.ac.be/cq04/.
- Foster, G. and Williamson, J., 2000, ‘A Review of Current Literature on the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Children in Sub-saharan Africa’ in AIDS 2000 (14) S75–S284.
- Gosh, J. and Kalipeni, E., 2004, ‘Rising Tide of AIDS Orphans in Southern Africa’ in: Kalipeni, E., Craddock, S., Oppong, J. R. and Gosh, J. (eds.), 2004, HIV and AIDS in Africa: Beyond Epidemiology, Blackwell Publishing.
- Guest, E., 2003, Children of AIDS: Africa’s Orphan Crisis, Pluto Press.
- INSAE (L’Institut National de la Statistique et de l’Analyse Economique) and ORC Macro, 2002, Enquête Démographique et de Santé au Bénin 2001, Claverton, Maryland, USA.
- Kalipeni, E., Craddock, S., Oppong, J. R. and Gosh, J. (eds.), 2004, HIV and AIDS in Africa: Beyond Epidemiology. Blackwell Publishing.
- Kielland, A. and Tovo, M., 2006, Children at Work: Child Labor Practices in Africa, Rienner.
- Lazarus, J., Christiansen, C., Østergaard, L. R. and Richey, L. A., 2005, Models for Life: Advancing Antiretroviral Treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa, Current African Issues no 31, Nordic Africa Institute.
- Nations Unies, 2005, Progrès accomplis dans la mise en œuvre de la Déclaration sur le VIH/sida: Rapport du Secrétaire Générale. Assemblée Générale, A/59/765.
- Nyambedha, E. O., Wandibba, S. and Aagaard-Hansen, S., 2003, ‘Changing Patterns of Orphan Care Due to the HIV Epidemic in Western Kenya’, Social Science and Medicine 57, 2003, 301–311.
- Phiri, S. and Webb, D., 2002, ‘The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Orphans and Programme and Policy Responses’ in Giovanni A. C. (ed.) AIDS, Public Policy and Child Well Being, UNICEF-IFR, Florence.
- PNLS (Programme national de lutte contre le SIDA), 2005, Etude sur la prise en charges des PVVIH au Bénin, Draft Document, Benin, February 2005.
- PNLS (Programme National de Lutte Contre le SIDA), 1998, Le SIDA au Bénin: Epidémiologie, Projections, Conséquences Socio-économiques, Interventions, PNLS / Ministère de la Santé, de la Protection Sociale et de la Condition Féminine / The Futures Group International, Cotonou.
- Prywes, M., Coury, D., Fesseha G., Hounsounou, G. and Kielland, A., 2004, ‘Cost of Projects for Orphans and other Vulnerable Children: Case Studies in Eritrea and Benin’, Social Protection Discussion Paper Series, No 0414, Social Protection Unit, Human Development Network, The World Bank www.worldbank.org/sp.
- République du Bénin, Comité national de lutte contre le SIDA, Ministère de la famille et de la protection sociale et de la solidarité, Ministère de la santé publique, 2004, Conférence nationale sur les orphelins et enfants rendus vulnérables par le VIH/SIDA (OEV): Rapport,Abomey, 17–19 May 2004, Plan Bénin, UNICEF.
- République du Bénin, 2005, Analyse de situation des orphelins et enfants vulnérables (OEV), CNLS-UNICEF-Banque Mondiale-CRS Bénin-Plan Bénin- PPLS-MSP/PNLS-MFPSS.
- Stein, J., 2003, Sorrow Makes Children of Us All: A Literature Review on the Psycho-Social Impact of HIV/AIDS on Children, Centre for Social Research Working Paper No. 47. University of Cape Town.
- Strandsbjerg, C., 2008, Les sens du pouvoir : Les forces «occultes» à la grâce divine. religion et transformations politiques dans le Bénin contemporain, PhD Thesis, Ecoles des Hautes Etudes et Sciences Sociale, Paris.
- UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and WHO (World Health Organization), 2006, 07 Epidemic Update.
- UNICEF, 2003, Les générations orphelins d’Afrique, http://www.unicef.org/ publications/files/africas_orphans.pdf
- UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), 2004a, Children on the Brink 2004, A Joint Report of New Orphan Estimates and a Framework for Action, New York: UNICEF, UNAIDS and USAID.
- UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), 2004b), ‘The Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World with HIV/AIDS’, http://www.unicef.org/Framework_English.pdf.
- UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), 2005, ‘Benin and Nigeria pledge to fight child traffiking’, News Note. http://www.unicef.org/media/media_2709.htlm.
- UNICEF and La République du Bénin, 2004, Etude sur l’initiative de reformes législatives phase II : Etude nationale du Bénin, September 2004.
- UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and USAID (United States Agency for International Development), 2004, Children on the Brink 2004: A Joint Report of New Orphan Estimates and a Framework for Action, July 2004 http:// www.unicef.org/publications/files/cob_layout6-013.pdf
- United Nations, 1999, Committee on Rights of the Child Continues Review of Report of Benin, Press Release, HR/CRC/99/28.
- Williamson, J., Cox, A. and Johnston, B., 2004, A Framework and Resource Guide: Conducting a Situation Analysis of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by HIV/AIDS, USAID.
References
Adato, M., Kadiyala, S., Roopnaraine, T., Biermayr-Jenzano, P. and Norman, A., 2005, Children in the Shadow of AIDS: Studies of Vulnerable Children and Orphans in Three Provinces in South Africa, International Food Policy Research Institute.
Amadou, M. and Sero Koto, S., 2001, Les Talibés au Nord du Bénin enfance malheureuse : un mode de vie choisi, PIED ONG.
Anti-Slavery, 2000, Trafficking of Children Between Benin and Gabon, Submission to United Nations Commission on Human Rights, www.anitslavery.org/archive/submission/submission2000-Benin.htm."
Atwine, B., Cantor-Graae, E. and Bajunirwe, F., 2005, ‘Psychological Distress Among AIDS Orphans in Rural Uganda’, Social Science and Medicine 57 (2005) 555–564.
Banque Mondiale, 2004, Boite à outils pour l’ASS: Une boite à outils pour la prise en charge des orphelins et enfants vulnérables (OEV) en Afrique sub- saharienne (ASS), 1st Edition, December 2004 www.worldbank.org/ovctoolkit
Banque Mondiale, 2001, Les orphelins du SIDA au Bénin: analyse de situation et proposition d’actions, Cotonou, Washington, September 2001.
Barnet, T. and Whiteside, A., 2002, AIDS in the Twenty-First Century: Disease and Globalization, Palgrave Macmillan.
Beegle, C., De Weerdt, J. and Dercon, S., 2005, Orphanhood and the Long-run Impact on Children, World Bank.
Benotsch, E. G., Stevenson, Y., Sitzler, C. A., Kelly, A. J., Makhaye, G., Mathey, E. D., Somlai, A. M., Brown, K. D., Amirkhanian, Y., Fernandezl, I. and Opgenorth, K. M., 2004, ‘HIV Prevention in Africa: Programs and Populations Served by Non- Governmental Organizations’, Journal of Community Health Vol. 29(4) 319–336.
Birdthistle, I. J., Floyd, S., Machingura, A., Mudziwapasi, N., Gregson, S. and Glynn, J. R., 2008, ‘From Affected to Infected? Orphanhood and HIV Risk among Female Adolescents in Urban Zimbabwe’ in AIDS, 30 March 2008, 22(6):759–66.
Birdthistle, I., 2004, ‘Understanding the Needs of Orphans and Other Children Affected by HIV and AIDS in Africa: State of the Science’, working draft, April 2004, prepared by the Support for Analysis and Research in Africa (SARA) project, operated by the Academy for Educational Development for United States Agency for International Development, Washington, D.C.,
Boko Nadjo, G., 2004, ‘Le code des personnes et de la famille Béninois’, Presentation at NGO Forum, Addis Ababa, (http://www.wildaf-ao.org/fr/IMG/doc/Boko_Nadjo_FR.doc).
Brown, L., Trujillo, L. and Macintyre, K., 2001, ‘Interventions to Reduce HIV/ AIDS Stigma: What Have We Learned?’, Horizons Program, Tulane University, http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/horizons/litrvwstigdisc.pdf
Campbell, C., Foulis, C. A., Maimane, S. and Sibiya, Z., 2005, ‘I Have an Evil Child at My House: Stigma and HIV/AIDS Management in a South African Community’, American Journal of Public Health, May 2005, 95:808–815.
Donadje, F. and Soton, A., 2004, ‘Genre et VIH/SIDA au Bénin: une synthèse de la collecte de données, Présentation donnée lors de la conférence « Santé de la reproduction au Nord et au Sud, de la connaissance à l’action », Louvain-La- Neuve (Belgium), 17-20 November 2004, www.demo.ucl.ac.be/cq04/.
Foster, G. and Williamson, J., 2000, ‘A Review of Current Literature on the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Children in Sub-saharan Africa’ in AIDS 2000 (14) S75–S284.
Gosh, J. and Kalipeni, E., 2004, ‘Rising Tide of AIDS Orphans in Southern Africa’ in: Kalipeni, E., Craddock, S., Oppong, J. R. and Gosh, J. (eds.), 2004, HIV and AIDS in Africa: Beyond Epidemiology, Blackwell Publishing.
Guest, E., 2003, Children of AIDS: Africa’s Orphan Crisis, Pluto Press.
INSAE (L’Institut National de la Statistique et de l’Analyse Economique) and ORC Macro, 2002, Enquête Démographique et de Santé au Bénin 2001, Claverton, Maryland, USA.
Kalipeni, E., Craddock, S., Oppong, J. R. and Gosh, J. (eds.), 2004, HIV and AIDS in Africa: Beyond Epidemiology. Blackwell Publishing.
Kielland, A. and Tovo, M., 2006, Children at Work: Child Labor Practices in Africa, Rienner.
Lazarus, J., Christiansen, C., Østergaard, L. R. and Richey, L. A., 2005, Models for Life: Advancing Antiretroviral Treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa, Current African Issues no 31, Nordic Africa Institute.
Nations Unies, 2005, Progrès accomplis dans la mise en œuvre de la Déclaration sur le VIH/sida: Rapport du Secrétaire Générale. Assemblée Générale, A/59/765.
Nyambedha, E. O., Wandibba, S. and Aagaard-Hansen, S., 2003, ‘Changing Patterns of Orphan Care Due to the HIV Epidemic in Western Kenya’, Social Science and Medicine 57, 2003, 301–311.
Phiri, S. and Webb, D., 2002, ‘The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Orphans and Programme and Policy Responses’ in Giovanni A. C. (ed.) AIDS, Public Policy and Child Well Being, UNICEF-IFR, Florence.
PNLS (Programme national de lutte contre le SIDA), 2005, Etude sur la prise en charges des PVVIH au Bénin, Draft Document, Benin, February 2005.
PNLS (Programme National de Lutte Contre le SIDA), 1998, Le SIDA au Bénin: Epidémiologie, Projections, Conséquences Socio-économiques, Interventions, PNLS / Ministère de la Santé, de la Protection Sociale et de la Condition Féminine / The Futures Group International, Cotonou.
Prywes, M., Coury, D., Fesseha G., Hounsounou, G. and Kielland, A., 2004, ‘Cost of Projects for Orphans and other Vulnerable Children: Case Studies in Eritrea and Benin’, Social Protection Discussion Paper Series, No 0414, Social Protection Unit, Human Development Network, The World Bank www.worldbank.org/sp.
République du Bénin, Comité national de lutte contre le SIDA, Ministère de la famille et de la protection sociale et de la solidarité, Ministère de la santé publique, 2004, Conférence nationale sur les orphelins et enfants rendus vulnérables par le VIH/SIDA (OEV): Rapport,Abomey, 17–19 May 2004, Plan Bénin, UNICEF.
République du Bénin, 2005, Analyse de situation des orphelins et enfants vulnérables (OEV), CNLS-UNICEF-Banque Mondiale-CRS Bénin-Plan Bénin- PPLS-MSP/PNLS-MFPSS.
Stein, J., 2003, Sorrow Makes Children of Us All: A Literature Review on the Psycho-Social Impact of HIV/AIDS on Children, Centre for Social Research Working Paper No. 47. University of Cape Town.
Strandsbjerg, C., 2008, Les sens du pouvoir : Les forces «occultes» à la grâce divine. religion et transformations politiques dans le Bénin contemporain, PhD Thesis, Ecoles des Hautes Etudes et Sciences Sociale, Paris.
UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and WHO (World Health Organization), 2006, 07 Epidemic Update.
UNICEF, 2003, Les générations orphelins d’Afrique, http://www.unicef.org/ publications/files/africas_orphans.pdf
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), 2004a, Children on the Brink 2004, A Joint Report of New Orphan Estimates and a Framework for Action, New York: UNICEF, UNAIDS and USAID.
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), 2004b), ‘The Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World with HIV/AIDS’, http://www.unicef.org/Framework_English.pdf.
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), 2005, ‘Benin and Nigeria pledge to fight child traffiking’, News Note. http://www.unicef.org/media/media_2709.htlm.
UNICEF and La République du Bénin, 2004, Etude sur l’initiative de reformes législatives phase II : Etude nationale du Bénin, September 2004.
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and USAID (United States Agency for International Development), 2004, Children on the Brink 2004: A Joint Report of New Orphan Estimates and a Framework for Action, July 2004 http:// www.unicef.org/publications/files/cob_layout6-013.pdf
United Nations, 1999, Committee on Rights of the Child Continues Review of Report of Benin, Press Release, HR/CRC/99/28.
Williamson, J., Cox, A. and Johnston, B., 2004, A Framework and Resource Guide: Conducting a Situation Analysis of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by HIV/AIDS, USAID.