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Tobey Nelson, Eka Esu-Williams, Lungile Mchunu,
Pinkie Nyamakazi, and S'fiso Mnguni. "Involving trained youth in school-based care and support
activities for orphans and vulnerable children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa."
ABSTRACT
Issue
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, faces large increases in the number
of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) due to HIV and AIDS. This
study was conducted in an effort to determine the feasibility of
engaging youth to provide care and support to OVC through a
school-based program.
Description
Ninety-eight volunteer youths (mean age 24) were identified and recruited as
caregivers. Caregivers underwent comprehensive training around care
and support. They were asked to visit assigned primary schools four
times a week for two hours per day over a six-month period.
Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from caregivers and
learners to evaluate the program.
Results
Activities conducted by the youth caregivers included: homework
assistance, HIV/AIDS education and child rights education,
recreational activities, psychosocial support, and community
outreach. At endline, over 75 percent of 560 learners surveyed (aged 11–15)
in the five intervention schools reported participation in program
activities. Of these, 95 percent reported that following participation they
feel more accepted by their peers, and 92 percent feel better able to
protect themselves from HIV.
Caregivers reported lack of compensation and transportation
problems as challenges. Throughout the intervention the number of
caregivers dropped from 98 to 44. Caregivers reported that they
struggled to manage all the needs of the learners.
Recommendation
Future program efforts need to look for ways to motivate and retain
youth caregivers. Programs should also establish links with other
programs and services to address the broader needs of the learners
that youth caregivers cannot manage, such as access to grants.
Learning objectives
- Articulate the need for utilizing trained youth to provide
care and support to OVC via school-based programs.
- Understand the role that young people can play in the
provision of care and support for orphans and vulnerable
children.
- Describe and discuss an intervention for providing
school-based care and support to orphans and vulnerable
children.
Poster Session 3276.0—HIV/AIDS Prevalence, Risk Behaviors,
Antiretroviral Therapy Issues, and Treatment/Prevention Options
in East and Southern Africa
Monday, 5 November 2007,
2:30–3:30
pm
APHA 2007 Conference Web site
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