Comparison of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of orphans and non-orphans among HIV-positive children in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

It appears that the extended family system is currently coping with the orphan situation. There is need for provision of social and economic support to caregivers of children orphaned by AIDS before the family system is overwhelmed.

A Review of Evidence for Transmission of HIV From Children to Breastfeeding Women and Implications for Prevention

“…Regional estimates from Kenya and Nigeria found that between 36% and 50% of orphaned children under the age of 15 were HIVinfected. 29,30 The median age at orphanhood for HIV-infected children in Nigeria was 24.0 months, suggesting that a substantial portion of children were orphaned while they were still young enough to be breastfed. A number of studies have also observed higher rates of maternal mortality among HIV-infected women when compared with their HIV-uninfected counterparts, indicating that HIV-exposed infants are at higher risk of becoming maternal orphans than infants of HIV-uninfected women.…”

Demographic and clinical features of orphans and nonorphans at a pediatric HIV centre in North India

“…Prevalence of the same in a clinic-based study from Nigeria was 36.4%. 8 A study conducted at an ART centre in Mumbai found that 40% of the pediatric patients have lost one or both parents. 9 Various studies differ in the patterns of orphan distribution in the community with some showing a predominance of paternal orphans 9,10,11 while others that of maternal orphans.…”

“…9 Various studies differ in the patterns of orphan distribution in the community with some showing a predominance of paternal orphans 9,10,11 while others that of maternal orphans. 8 The non-orphans were all staying with their parents. Most of the orphans were being cared for by either the surviving parent or the grandparents or uncle and aunts.…”

“…9 However, in a Nigerian study, the paternal orphans were more likely to stay with the mother than the maternal orphan with the father. 8 This was explained by the fact that the father is frequently away from home for work. Majority of the parents in both the groups were also HIV positive and vertical transmission was the most common mode of acquiring HIV infection.…”

“…12 Other studies showed no such difference. 8,11,13 One study showed that the complete orphans were most affected in terms of schooling. 13 Decreased school enrolment and attendance among orphans could be due to inability of the extended family to educate all the children of the household because of financial constraints, the orphaned child being the first to face discontinuation of studies.…”