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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Children at risk: a study of the psychosocial impact of HIV on orphans and other vulnerable children in Benin
Authors:Østergaard, Lise Rosendal
Meyrowitsch, Dan W.
Year:2008
Periodical:Africa Development: A Quarterly Journal of CODESRIA (ISSN 0850-3907)
Volume:33
Issue:3
Pages:109-126
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Benin
West Africa
Subjects:AIDS
orphans
sociology
Children--Social conditions
AIDS (Disease)--Social aspects
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/24483998
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. However, when they are sick, HIV-affected children are significantly more likely to undertake self-treatment and more likely to work. They are also offered fewer meals than unaffected children. With respect to psychosocial factors, the data suggest that children who have had a parent with HIV have significantly higher levels of psychological distress than those who have not. Governments and civil society organizations need to address not only the material deprivation, especially hunger, of children thus affected by HIV, but also their need for social services. Bibliogr., note, sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]
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