Care arrangements, grief and psychological problems among children orphaned by AIDS in China

Abstract

The China Ministry of Health has estimated that there are at least 100,000 AIDS orphans in China. The UNICEF China Office estimates that between 150,000 and 250,000 additional children will be orphaned by AIDS over the next five years. However, limited data are available regarding the sociodemographic characteristics, care arrangement, barriers to appropriate grief resolution and psychological problems among AIDS orphans in China. In this article, we review secondary data and reports from scientific literature, government, non-governmental organizations, and public media regarding children orphaned by AIDS in China to address their living situation, bereavement process, and psychological problems. Our review suggests that AIDS orphans in China are living in a stressful environment with many orphans struggling with psychological problems and unmet basic needs such as food, shelter, education, and medical care. Based on our review, we suggest that future studies should address the psychosocial needs of AIDS orphans in China and develop health promotion programs to mitigate the negative impact of parental death on the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of these orphans.

AIDS Knowledge and HIV Stigma among Children Affected by HIV/AIDS in Rural China

“…Because of extreme poverty, many farmers sold their blood to blood centers that used unhygienic blood collection procedures, resulting in a rapid spread of HIV (Cohen, 2004). Many of the infected people have subsequently died, leaving their children orphaned (He & Ji, 2007;Zhao et al, 2007). Since 2004, in response to the increased number of AIDS orphans, the Chinese government has begun construction of AIDS orphanages in areas hardest hit by AIDS and the first of such AIDS orphanages was built in late 2004 in Henan Province.…”

AIDS Orphanages in China: Reality and Challenges

“…1 As estimated by the China Ministry of Health in 2004, there are at least 100,000 AIDS orphans in China. 2 According to UNAIDS=UNICEF, AIDS orphans are children under 18 years of age who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. 3 The China Ministry of Civil Affairs has speculated that without effective prevention programs, the number of AIDS orphans will increase to 260,000 by 2010.…”

“…7 In the late 1980s, some commercial blood stations collected blood in remote rural areas of Henan Province using unhygienic collection procedures, resulting in the rapid spread of the HIV=AIDS epidemic. 2,4 According to an estimate by the China Ministry of Health (MOH) and United Nations Theme Group on HIV=AIDS in China (UNTG), in the mid-1990s there were at least 3 million commercial blood donors inhabiting China's central and southern provinces including Henan Province. 8 Many of these donors became HIV positive and have subsequently died resulting in children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS.…”

“…8 Many of these donors became HIV positive and have subsequently died resulting in children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. 2,4 On the 2003 World AIDS Day, the China government announced a national AIDS control program, ''the China Comprehensive AIDS Responses'' or ''China CARES.'' The basic strategies in China CARES were ''four frees and one care'' programs: free antiretroviral drugs, free prevention of motherto-child transmission, free voluntary counseling and testing, free schooling for children orphaned by AIDS, and care and economic assistance to the households of people living with HIV=AIDS.…”

“…The first of such AIDS orphanage was built in Henan Province. 2 The government of Henan Province claimed that they spent a total of 17.40 million yuan (or about $2.18 million) in construction of 20 AIDS orphanages, which admitted 356 AIDS orphans in 2004.…”