Assessing the health status of young AIDS and other orphans in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract


The huge number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) orphans is an important feature of the epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. There are few and conflicting data on the effects of being orphaned on health and nutrition in the highly affected HIV endemic areas of Africa. This study reports findings from a cross-sectional survey on associations between orphan status and health and nutrition parameters in young children of urban Uganda. A high prevalence of orphans was reported from a central Kampala community, with 41% being attributed to HIV/AIDS. Although there was a higher prevalence of self-reported morbidity in orphans than nonorphans, there were no differences in reported treatment seeking behaviour and measured anthropometric parameters. Hence it seems that the extended family system still manages to care for young orphans. Paying school fees for older children should be the primary target for HIV/AIDS impact mitigation programs in urban Uganda.



Malabika Sarker Olaf Mu¨ller1 Christina Neckermann | source: Tropical Medicine and International Health 337 |
Categories: Health


Other articles

The Predictive Accuracy of Pre-Adoption Video Review in Adoptees from Russian and Eastern European Orphanages

Many internationally adopted children have a pre-adoption video for prospective adoptive parents to review before their…

Read more

Health and Nutritional Status of Orphan Children’s Living in Orphanages with Special Reference to District Anantnag of Jammu and Kashmir

The practice of placing deprived children having least or no emotional and material resources, in orphanages has since long…

Read more

Caring for the orphan in the Philippines: A Policy-Capacity review

Using synthesis and an integrative approach, the article analyzes laws, policies, and institutions that protect the rights…

Read more

Care and education of orphaned children in Poland

Poland is going through tremendous changes in its educational and health‐care systems. These changes may bring reforms in…

Read more