A Public Health Model and Framework to Mitigate the Impact of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Due to HIV/AIDS in Cameroon

UNICEF, UNAIDS and USAID developed a global strategic framework to guide responses to care and protect orphans and other vulnerable children in the context of HIV/AIDS. In the developing world, about 132 million people have lost one or both parents due to the AIDS pandemic and 25 million children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS in 2010. The HIV prevalence in Cameroon is estimated at 5.1%. As of 2010, there were 304,000 deaths due to AIDS in Cameroon. Out of 1,200,000 orphans and vulnerable children in Cameroon in 2010, 300,000 were AIDS orphans. The HIV/AIDS burden impacts child survival, growth and development in the traditional African setting. With so many orphans in the population, along with many vulnerable children, strategies must be developed to respond more effectively to their critical needs. This study provides a model for OVC care and support in Cameroon. The model was developed out of extensive work using a participatory approach involving traditional, administrative and health stakeholders on OVC in Yaounde I and Yaounde VI Councils, Nanga Eboko Health District, Isangelle, Ekondo Titi, and Bafaka-Balue communities in Cameroon. Consultancy services with PLAN Cameroon, the Pan African Institute for Development-West Africa coupled with facilitation of many training workshops on OVC with Save the orphans Foundation, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Public Health and working with the National AIDS Control Committee. The essential components of a holistic framework for the care of OVC have been identified. A public health model for the care of OVC and a mechanism for their identification and a referral system for testing OVC for HIV are proposed. Through this model, a mechanism for the effective holistic care of OVC and collaboration is enhanced.

Lay vs. Professional Perspectives: The Sexual and Reproductive Health of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Uganda

Background/Introduction: Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in sub-Saharan Africa have been the focus of much popular and academic writing and the growing body of evidence cannot be overlooked. Existing research focuses on projections of OVC numbers, interventions, outcomes and descriptions of care arrangements. A lot of information exists on their poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) status—most of it quantitative. The purpose of this paper is to present the voice and perceptions of OVC in regards to their SRH. Methods: This was a mixed-methods qualitative study drawing from phenomenology and it used purposive sampling to recruit 129 participants. Results: OVC perceptions and priorities do not always intersect with those of professionals and this has implications for existing and planned interventions. For example some OVC think favorably about early marriages while others have mechanisms of self-protection again SRH harm although this is not usually acknowledged. Conclusions: OVC demonstrate agency;therefore positioning them at the heart of service planning and delivery is an effective strategy in increasing the uptake and impact of interventions seeking to address their sexual and reproductive health needs.

The Legal Protection of Children Orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: An Appraisal

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the resultant disease—Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome are global epidemics in recent times. Although the effects of the epidemic have been curtailed somewhat in the developed world, it is not so in developing countries. As such it affects not only the infected but those directly dependent on them. Some of the affected people have been identified as children, who turn out to be unprepared for and defenceless against the imminent hardship prevalent as a consequence of the disease. The effects of the epidemic are felt more in the developing world than in developed countries and this is because the attitude of the developed world to the epidemic is positive, enhanced by awareness of the disease;whereas in the developing countries, a lot of myths are attached to it, affecting the requisite attitude needed to combat the epidemic and its effects. This paper seeks to examine the effects of this epidemic on children in Nigeria, comparing the effects on children in other African countries. The paper also looks at structures in place to cater for these children, and then seeks to proffer improved means of protecting their rights.

学生家长对受艾滋病影响儿童歧视态度分析

目的探讨家长对受艾滋病影响儿童歧视的原因,为采取反歧视干预措施提供依据。方法选取黑龙江、北京、河南3个地区的小学、初中和高中学生家长共582名进行问卷调查。结果单因素分析发现,不同地区、身份和文化程度的家长,子女性别及年级不同的家长的态度差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。家长的态度与艾滋病知识得分、权利和政策得分以及艾滋病与道德关系认识得分呈正相关(P<0.05)。多因素分析显示,与父亲比较,母亲的态度更趋于负向;不同意艾滋病与道德有关、非传播途径得分、受教育权得分、隐私权得分和政策得分高的家长态度更倾向于正向。结论学生家长缺乏艾滋病知识,将艾滋病与行为道德联系起来,对权利和政策认识不足以及家长对孩子的保护欲是产生恐惧和歧视的原因。

某市620名学生对受艾滋病影响儿童受教育权的反歧视态度及其影响因素分析

[目的]了解学生对艾滋病知识和相关法律政策的知晓情况,以及对受艾滋病影响儿童(OVC)在受教育权方面的态度及其影响因素。[方法]2006年6月在某市选取小学、初中、高中、大学各1所,每校选择2～3个班级,共624名学生进行问卷调查。[结果]回收问卷624份,其中有效问卷620份。学生艾滋病知识总的知晓率为73.46%,小学生、初中生、高中生和大学生知晓率分别为67.59%、73.56%、75.39%和74.12%。25.2%的学生听说过"四免一关怀"政策这一名词,37.4%的学生听说过具体的内容。虽然90%以上的学生同意受艾滋病影响儿童有受教育的权利,但不足60%的学生愿意与他们同班学习。学生对受艾滋病影响儿童的态度受知识水平、接受艾滋病教育以及权利意识的影响。[结论]学生对受艾滋病影响儿童受教育权方面还存在不同程度的歧视。缺乏知识,把艾滋病与不良行为道德联系起来是产生歧视的部分原因。政府的政策保证、学校提供艾滋病教育、增强法律意识有助于减少歧视。

学生家长对受艾滋病影响儿童态度调查

目的了解学生家长对艾滋病知识和相关法律政策的知晓情况以及对受艾滋病影响儿童在受教育权方面的态度。方法选取黑龙江、北京、河南3个地区的小学、初中和高中学生家长582名进行问卷调查。结果学生家长艾滋病知识总的知晓率为74.83%。35.9%的家长听说过"四免一关怀"政策一词,42.4%的家长听说过这一政策的具体内容。虽然95%以上的家长赞同受艾滋病影响儿童有受教育的权利,但只有不到40%的家长愿意自己的孩子与他们同班学习。结论学生家长的艾滋病知识掌握不全面,政策的知晓率较低,对艾滋病病毒感染者的歧视程度视其感染途径不同而显示出差异,对受艾滋病影响儿童还存在一定程度的排斥和歧视。

河南省某艾滋病高发村受艾滋病影响儿童的生活质量现状调查

[目的]了解农村艾滋病高发地区受艾滋病影响儿童(OVC)的生活质量现状。[方法]选择河南省某艾滋病重点村确定的60名OVC为研究对象,60名一般农村儿童作为对照组,利用儿童青少年生活质量问卷及自制艾滋病知识、态度及家庭防护常识问卷进行调查。比较两组儿童艾滋病知识、态度、家庭防护知识得分、自我满意度及生活质量评分。[结果]两组儿童艾滋病知识、态度、家庭防护知识得分比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);OVC组自我满意度、生理健康、心理健康得分低于对照组(P<0.05)。[结论]应加强艾滋病高发区农村儿童的艾滋病相关知识教育,进一步改善OVC的身心健康。

受艾滋病影响儿童救助安置政策分析:社会保护的视角——以“河南模式”为例

在实践探索中形成的救助安置受艾滋病影响儿童"河南模式",通过开展社会救助、社会服务和实施就业及家庭政策,初步解决了他们的生活、教育、医疗和发展问题,但是在实施中还存在一些困境和不足。基于社会保护理论的视角,有效解决"河南模式"困境与不足的路径是实现从一元到多元、从个人到社区、从生存到发展、从需要满足到权利本位的转向,重构受艾滋病影响儿童社会保护取向的适度普惠型的社会福利体系。

受艾滋病影响儿童群体救助工作的新路径探析——兼论高校社会工作教育者的介入

受艾滋病影响儿童作为特殊弱势群体,其救助具有特殊性和多元性,需要社会各方面力量的参与和整合。作为一项专业的综合性服务活动,社会工作以助人自助为核心价值观,强调个别化、平等、接纳等原则,运用专业的理论、方法和技巧介入受艾滋病影响儿童群体,目的是协助其走出心理等多重困境,同时能够使其社会功能得到恢复和发展。在综观现有研究的解决对策基础上,文章尝试了高校社会工作教育者介入受艾滋病影响儿童群体救助工作的新路径探析,分析了其优势和特点,并对其工作载体和工作手法等提出了构想。