The psychosocial impacts of AIDS on affected children in Africa

In Southern Africa, as in many parts of the world, generations of children and youths are directly confronted with the presence of HIV/AIDS in their families. They have to care for their sick parents and at the same time make a living for themselves and their siblings. A large number of these children also grow up as orphans living with their grand parents or other relatives. This HIV/AIDS related weakening of the family structures has far-reaching social and psychological consequences for the affected children that go beyond the immediate experience of loss and illness.

In a three years study the SAD together with the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) and ChildFund Zambia examined the effectiveness of different psychosocial and economic measures to support children affected by AIDS. The results are used to develop evidence-based programmes strenghtening efficiency and effectiveness of interventions through scientific findings. Programme developers and implementers can rely on scientifically generated evidence learning which forms of interventions work best and how they should be combined to maximize the positive outcomes for the target group of underage children suffering from the consequences of the AIDS pandemic. The research was supported by the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

For the World AIDS Day 2011 we have summarised the most important findings and recommendations in 10 policy briefs .

For more information please contact Adrian Gschwend (+41 (0)32 344 30 54), Pia Ammann or Katharina Wespi (+41 (0)32 344 30 51).