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AIDS Behav (2006) 10:619626 DOI 10.1007/s10461-006-9086-6
ORIGINAL PAPER
Towards a Denition of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children
Donald Skinner N. Tsheko S. Mtero-Munyati M. Segwabe P. Chibatamoto S. Mfecane B. Chandiwana N. Nkomo S. Tlou G. Chitiyo
Published online: 26 April 2006
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Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006
Abstract The HIV epidemic presents challenges including orphans and a large mass of children rendered vulnerable by the epidemic and other societal forces. Focus on orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) is important, but needs accurate denition. Twelve focus group interviews of service providers, leaders in these communities, OVC and their caretakers were conducted at six project sites across Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe to extend this denition. The loss of a parent through death or desertion is an important aspect of vulnerability. Additional factors leading to vulnerability included severe chronic illness of a parent or care-giver, poverty, hunger, lack of access to services, inadequate
D. Skinner ([envelopeback]) S. Mfecane N. Nkomo Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Public Health (SAHA), Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC),Private Bag X9182, Cape Town, 8000 South Africae-mail: [email protected]
N. TshekoDept of Education, University of Botswana, Gaberone, Botswana
S. Mtero-Munyati National Institute of Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
M. SegwabeDept of Health and Wellness, University of Botswana, Gaberone, Botswana
P. Chibatamoto B. Chandiwana G. Chitiyo Biomedical Research & Training Institute-Centre for International Health and Policy BRTI-CIHP,Harare, Zimbabwe
S. Tlou Minister of Health, Gaberone, Botswana
clothing or shelter, overcrowding, decient caretakers, and factors specic to the child, including disability, direct experience of physical or sexual violence, or severe chronic illness. Important questions raised in this research include the long-term implications for the child and community, and the contribution of culture systems.
Keywords Orphans . HIV . AIDS . Orphaned and vulnerable children . Denition . Sub-Saharan Africa
Introduction
The importance of considering the situation of children orphaned by AIDS has been made clear both by projections of the number of orphans expected, and the lack of adequate caring mechanisms and service structures to support them. However, looking at the situation of these orphans does not address the full scale of the problem, since the epidemic and surrounding poverty are generating a context in which large numbers of children are becoming vulnerable. The term orphaned and vulnerable children...