The HIV epidemic has introduced new challenges to families and communities, putting traditional social safety nets under stress and threatening the survival and development of children. Evidence from varied settings indicates that the impacts of HIV on children include increased risk of school dropout and poor performance, impaired food security, diminished psychosocial well-being, elevated risks of infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, reduced access to health care and other services, exposure to abuse and economic exploitation, and other problems associated with poverty and lack of adult care. As adults of child-bearing and child-rearing age experience HIV-related morbidity and mortality, a generation of children is becoming increasingly vulnerable due to orphanhood and household instability on an unprecedented scale.
Population Council focus
The Council’s research focuses on strengthening interventions and helping to scale up best practices to offer support to children who have been orphaned and rendered vulnerable by HIV. The Council works with local partners to develop evaluation tools and approaches, setting a high priority on building the capacity of local organizations in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Population Council impact
- A Council study in rural northern Zambia piloting the involvement of young people in the care and support of people with chronic illness and their vulnerable children led to a new emphasis on the circumstances and capacities of children and young people. This program was scaled up throughout Zambia and subsequently adapted for use in South Africa.
- Council staff members pioneered the development of definitions of vulnerability to help programs identify the neediest children and developed and published an ethical guidance document exploring approaches to collecting data among children.
- The Council evaluated a program in Uganda, implemented by Plan International, to help HIV-positive parents plan for their children’s futures. Based on findings from the evaluation, this program became a UNAIDS "best practice" and has been replicated in many settings.
- In Zambia, the Population Council worked with the RAPIDS Consortium, led by World Vision, to evaluate an intervention providing integrated community-based care and support to families affected by HIV and offered recommendations to program managers on how to ensure the greatest impact with available resources.
Future directions
Council researchers are working to continue to build the evidence base on how to support children who have been orphaned and rendered vulnerable by HIV. Current and ongoing work includes creating a national directory of service providers for children in South Africa and conducting a situation analysis of orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda.
Projects
Creating a National Directory of Service Providers for Vulnerable Children (more)
The Council supported the development of a national directory of service providers for vulnerable children in South Africa.
(7/2008 - 6/2011)
South Africa
Identifying and Testing Children at Increased Risk for HIV Through Caregivers: The Caregiver Project (more)
The Caregiver Project addresses the need for increased pediatric HIV testing and early diagnosis in South Africa.
(10/2007 - 9/2010)
South Africa
Evaluation of Services for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, People Living with HIV/AIDS and Youth in Zambia (RAPIDS) (more)
The Council evaluated the RAPIDS program, which offers a holistic package of care and support services aimed at improving the quality of life of people who are living with HIV, children living within their households, and youth within their communities.
(8/2004 - 8/2010)
Zambia
HIV/AIDS Evaluation, Assessment, and Formative Research (more)
The Council and partners are conducting several research, evaluation, and technical assistance activities on USAID-funded HIV/AIDS programs in Uganda.
(10/2008 - 1/2010)
Uganda
Assessing the Psychosocial Benefits of a Community-based Home Visitation Program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Rwanda (more)
The Population Council and its partners developed and evaluated a community mentorship program to improve the psychosocial well-being of youth-headed households in Rwanda.
(9/2003 - 7/2007)
Rwanda
A Pilot Community-based Intervention Program to Address the Needs of Elderly Caregivers in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa (more)
Council researchers explored the challenges faced by elderly caregivers in South Africa and opportunities for program interventions to mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS on the elderly and those for whom they care.
(3/2006 - 5/2007)
South Africa
Involving Young People in the Care and Support of AIDS-affected Children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (more)
Researchers from the Council’s Horizons program evaluated a school-based intervention to train and support youth as caregivers for AIDS-affected children.
(3/2005 - 3/2007)
South Africa
Promoting the Sustainability of PLHA Care and Support Activities by Young People in Zambia (more)
This Horizons study established that young people who provide care and support to people living with HIV and AIDS can help meet their needs and those of family members and can help reduce community stigmatization of those who are infected or help youth to reduce sexual risk-taking; focus now is on the long-term sustainability of the program.
(9/1999 - 3/2007)
Zambia
Technical Assistance to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF), Goelama Project (more)
Council researchers identified ways that government and communities can strengthen the socioeconomic capacity of households to care and support AIDS-affected children and studied the sexual and reproductive behaviors of young people in South Africa and the factors that may influence these behaviors.
(3/2005 - 3/2007)
South Africa
Exploring Current Practices in Pediatric ARV Rollout and Integration with Early Childhood Programs in South Africa (more)
This study identified successful program strategies in pediatric HIV treatment in South Africa and recommended priority knowledge gaps to be addressed by operations research.
(11/2004 - 2/2006)
South Africa
Succession Planning to Support AIDS-affected Children (more)
Population Council researchers with the Horizons program evaluated the effectiveness of a succession-planning program in Uganda that helps HIV-positive parents plan for their children’s long-term well-being.
(8/1999 - 1/2003)
Uganda
Resources
"The Population Council's HIV and AIDS program," fact sheet (PDF)
Population Council
Publication date: 2012
Ethical principles, dilemmas and risks in collecting data on violence against children: A review of available literature (PDF)
Child Protection Monitoring and Evaluation Reference Group
Publication date: 2012
Examining dimensions of vulnerability among children in Uganda (abstract)
Kalibala,Sam; Schenk,Katie D.; Weiss,Deborah C.; Elson,Lynne
Psychology, Health & Medicine 17(3): 295-310
Publication date: 2012
Improving the lives of children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS (PDF)
Population Briefs 17(1)
Publication date: 2011
Shaping evidence-based policies and programs for vulnerable children in Uganda (PDF)
Population Briefs 17(2)
Publication date: 2011
Community interventions supporting children affected by HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A review to derive evidence-based principles for programming (abstract) (HTML)
Schenk,Katie D.; Michaelis,Annie P.
Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies 5(S1): 40-54
Publication date: 2010
Correlates of grief among older adults caring for children and grandchildren as a consequence of HIV and AIDS in South Africa (abstract)
Boon,Hermien; Ruiter,Robert A.C.; James,Shegs; van den Borne,Bart; Esu-Williams,Eka; Reddy,Priscilla
Journal of Aging and Health 22(1): 48-67
Publication date: 2010
Explaining perceived ability among older people to provide care as a result of HIV and AIDS in South Africa (abstract)
Boon,Hermien; James,Shegs; Ruiter,Robert A.C.; van den Borne,Bart; Esu-Williams,Eka; Reddy,Priscilla
AIDS Care 22(4): 399-408
Publication date: 2010
Improving the lives of vulnerable children: Implications of Horizons research among orphans and other children affected by AIDS (abstract)
Schenk,Katie D.; Michaelis,Annie P.; Nelson Sapiano,Tobey; Brown,Lisanne; Weiss,Ellen
Public Health Reports 125(2): 325-336
Publication date: 2010
Looking back, moving forward: Improving the lives of orphans and other children affected by AIDS, Horizons studies 1998 to 2007 (PDF)
Schenk,Katie D.; Michaelis,Annie P.; Nelson,Tobey C.; Brown,Lisanne; Weiss,Ellen
Horizons Synthesis Background Papers
Publication date: 2010
Protecting hope: Situation analysis of vulnerable children in Uganda 2009 (PDF)
Kalibala,Sam; Elson,Lynne
Publication date: 2010
RAPIDS evaluation final report 2005-2009 key findings (PDF)
Apicella,Louis; Schenk,Katie D.; Khan,Hena
Publication date: 2010
Community interventions providing care and support to orphans and vulnerable children: A review of evaluation evidence (abstract)
Schenk,Katie D.
AIDS Care 21(7): 918-942
Publication date: 2009
HIV and children (PDF)
Momentum, June
Publication date: 2009
Impact of a mentoring program on psychosocial wellbeing of youth in Rwanda: Results of a quasi-experimental study (abstract)
Brown,Lisanne; Thurman,Tonya R.; Rice,Janet C.; Boris,Neil W.; Ntaganira,Joseph; Nyirazinyoye,Laetitia N.; De Dieu,Jean; Snider,Leslie M.
Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies 4(4): 288-299
Publication date: 2009
Pilot community-based intervention to address the needs of elderly caregivers in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (PDF)
Reddy,Priscilla; James,Shegs; Bilay-Boon,H.Mutumba; Esu-Williams,Eka; Khan,Hena
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2009
The impact of a community-based pilot health education intervention for older people as caregivers of orphaned and sick children as a result of HIV and AIDS in South Africa (abstract) (PDF)
Boon,Hermien; Ruiter,Robert A.C.; James,Shegs; van den Borne,Bart; Esu-Williams,Eka; Reddy,Priscilla
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 24(4): 373-389
Publication date: 2009
Barriers to the community support of orphans and vulnerable youth in Rwanda (abstract)
Thurman,Tonya R.; Snider,Leslie M.; Boris,Neil W.; Kalisa,Edward; Nyirazinyoye,Laetitia N.; Brown,Lisanne
Social Science and Medicine 66(7): 1557-1567
Publication date: 2008
Circumstances and motivations for fostering children in Zambia (abstract)
Schenk,Katie D.; Ndhlovu,Lewis; Tembo,Stephen; Nsune,Andson; Nkhata,Chozi; Walusiku,Batuke; Watts,Charlotte
Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies 3(1): 78-84
Publication date: 2008
Depressive symptoms in youth heads of household in Rwanda (abstract) (PDF)
Boris,Neil W.; Brown,Lisanne; Thurman,Tonya R.; Rice,Janet C.; Snider,Leslie M.; Ntaganira,Joseph; Nyirazinyoye,Laetitia N.
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 162(9): 836-843
Publication date: 2008
'If you build it, will they come?' Kenya healthy start pediatric HIV study: A diagnostic study investigating barriers to HIV treatment and care among children (PDF)
Kiragu,Karusa; Schenk,Katie D.; Murugi,Julie; Sarna,Avina
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2008
Researching the determinants of vulnerability to HIV among adolescents (abstract)
Hallman,Kelly
IDS Bulletin 39(5): 36-44
Publication date: 2008
Supporting orphans and vulnerable children affected by AIDS: Using community-generated definitions to explore patterns of children's vulnerability in Zambia (abstract)
Schenk,Katie D.; Ndhlovu,Lewis; Tembo,Stephen; Nsune,Andson; Nkhata,Chozi; Walusiku,Batuke; Watts,Charlotte
AIDS Care 20(8): 894-903
Publication date: 2008
Training youth caregivers to provide HIV education and support to orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa (PDF)
Nelson,Tobey C.; Esu-Williams,Eka; Mchunu,Lungile; Nyamakazi,Pinkie; Mnguni,S'Fiso; Schenk,Katie D.; Searle,Catherine; Redner,Jennifer
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2008
Casamento infantil no contexto da epidemia do VIH (PDF)
Bruce,Judith
Promover transições para a idade adulta saudáveis, seguras e produtivas Sumário (N 11)
Publication date: 2007
Child marriage in the context of the HIV epidemic (PDF)
Bruce,Judith
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 11)
Publication date: 2007
Infants and young children living in youth-headed households in Rwanda: Implications of emerging data (abstract)
Boris,Neil W.; Thurman,Tonya R.; Snider,Leslie M.; Spencer,Erin; Brown,Lisanne
Infant Mental Health Journal 27(6): 584-602
Publication date: 2007
Psychosocial benefits of a mentoring program for youth-headed households in Rwanda (PDF)
Brown,Lisanne; Rice,Janet C.; Boris,Neil W.; Thurman,Tonya R.; Snider,Leslie M.; Ntaganira,Joseph; Nyirazinyoye,Laetitia N.; Kalisa,Edward; Nshizirungu,Emmanuel
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007
Situation analysis of the sexual and reproductive health and HIV risks and prevention needs of older orphaned and vulnerable children in Nyanza Province, Kenya (PDF)
Juma,Milka; Askew,Ian; Ferguson,Alan
Publication date: 2007
Support programs aid vulnerable African children (PDF)
Population Briefs 13(3)
Publication date: 2007
Supporting volunteer mentors: Insights from a mentorship program for youth-headed households in Rwanda (PDF)
Brown,Lisanne; Thurman,Tonya R.; Kalisa,Edward; Rice,Janet C.; de Dieu Bizimana,Jean; Boris,Neil W.; Snider,Leslie M.; Ntaganira,Joseph
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007
Ethical implications of working with children (PDF)
Population Briefs 12(1)
Publication date: 2006
Expanding pediatric access to antiretroviral therapy in South Africa (PDF)
Michaels,Desiree; Eley,Brian; Ndhlovu,Lewis; Rutenberg,Naomi; Khan,Hena
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2006
Orphans and vulnerable youth in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: An exploratory study of psychosocial well-being and psychosocial support (PDF)
Gilborn,Laelia; Apicella,Louis; Brakarsh,Jonathan; Dube,Linda; Jemison,Kyle; Kluckow,Mark; Smith,Tricia; Snider,Leslie M.
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2006
Protecting children's rights in the collection of health and welfare data (abstract) (PDF)
Schenk,Katie D.; Murove,Tapfuma; Williamson,Jan
Health and Human Rights 9(1): 81-100
Publication date: 2006
Psychosocial support and marginalization of youth-headed households in Rwanda (abstract)
Thurman,Tonya R.; Snider,Leslie M.; Boris,Neil W.; Kalisa,Edward; Mugarira,Eleazer Nkunda; Ntaganira,Joseph; Brown,Lisanne
AIDS Care 18(3): 220-229
Publication date: 2006
RAPIDS baseline survey report
Schenk,Katie D.; Ndhlovu,Lewis
Publication date: 2006
Sexual risk behavior among South African adolescents: Is orphan status a factor? (abstract)
Thurman,Tonya R.; Brown,Lisanne; Richter,Linda; Maharaj,Pranitha; Magnani,Robert
AIDS and Behavior 10(6): 627-635
Publication date: 2006
Ethical Approaches to Gathering Information from Children and Adolescents in International Settings: Guidelines and Resources (PDF)
Schenk,Katie D.; Williamson,Jan
Publication date: 2005
Microcredit and households coping with HIV/AIDS: A case study from Zimbabwe (abstract) (HTML)
Barnes,Carolyn
Journal of Microfinance 7(1): 55-77
Publication date: 2005
Challenges faced by households in caring for orphans and vulnerable children (PDF)
Horizons Research Update
Publication date: 2004
Les implications du mariage précoce pour les politiques de VIH/SIDA (PDF)
Bruce,Judith; Clark,Shelley
Publication date: 2004
Protecting children affected by AIDS (PDF)
Matthew,Susan; Dadian,Margaret
AIDSLink 83: 16-
Publication date: 2004
Socioeconomic disadvantage and unsafe sexual behaviors among young women and men in South Africa (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 190)
Publication date: 2004
Succession planning in Uganda: Early outreach for AIDS-affected children and their families (PDF)
Horizons Program; Makerere University Department of Sociology; Plan Uganda
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2004
The impact on adolescent reproductive health of community-based interventions for supporting orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004
The implications of early marriage for HIV/AIDS policy (PDF)
Bruce,Judith; Clark,Shelley
Brief based on background paper prepared for the WHO/UNFPA/Population Council Technical Consultation on Married Adolescents
Publication date: 2004
The implications of early marriage for HIV/AIDS policy [Arabic]
Bruce,Judith; Clark,Shelley
Publication date: 2004
Involving youth in the care and support of people affected by HIV and AIDS (PDF)
Esu-Williams,Eka; Geibel,Scott; Motsepe,Joseph; Schenk,Katie D.; Zulu,Moses; Bweupe,Petronella
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2003
Microfinance and households coping with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe: An exploratory study (PDF)
Barnes,Carolyn; Keogh,Erica; Nemarundwe,Nontokozo; Nyikahadzoi,Loveness; Weiss,Ellen
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2003
Succession planning in Uganda: Early outreach for AIDS-affected children and their families (PDF)
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2003
Impact of AIDS on children in Africa (PDF)
Gilborn,Laelia
Testimony presented to U.S. Congress, the House International Relations Committee
Publication date: 2002
Microfinance and households coping with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe: An exploratory study (PDF)
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2002
Making a difference for children affected by AIDS: Baseline findings from operations research in Uganda (PDF)
Gilborn,Laelia; Nyonyintono,Rebecca; Kabumbuli,Robert; Jagwe-Wadda,Gabriel
Horizons Report
Publication date: 2001
Succession planning: Helping AIDS orphans
Gilborn,Laelia
Global AIDSLink 64: 7-
Publication date: 2000
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