The study focuses on the welfare of orphans and other vulnerable children in relation to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. Specifically, it seeks answers to a critical question: what are the consequences of parental deaths from AIDS for the welfare of AIDS orphans and of other children in the households that care for orphans? At the same time, the study adopts the logic of integrated research and management in order to ensure that the research process improves capacity for Africa-based responses to the pandemic and the research results are used to promote coherent multisectoral responses to the pandemic. The study is based on a field trial to be conducted in the environs of Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The field trial will follow a cohort of children drawn from schools in the area over a period of three years. The key research questions ask what is the impact of AIDS orphans on: 1) the economic welfare of children in orphan households, including the orphans and the other children in the household; 2) the health of orphans and other children in orphan households; and 3) the educational attainment of orphans and other children in orphan households. These questions will allow the research team to relate health-related and socio-economic conditions, which is essential in view of the diverse effects of HIV/AIDS on individuals and society. The field trial as a whole will be supported by a Participatory Research process in order to establish an integrated research and management framework. A necessary consultation exercise prior to initiation of the field trial, for example, will be designed also to lay the foundations for systematic engagement of local residents and officials with the study such that, after five years, a practical multisectoral-based orphan care and support program can be implemented. With regard to capacity building, the study will assist HEARD to entrench field trial expertise as a core competency and to set a benchmark for the design and implementation of inter-disciplinary research for the management of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Linkages strengthened will be those that support elaboration of a multisectoral response to the pandemic and management interventions based on sound scientific research.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Resource-Related Research Projects (R24)
Project #
5R24HD043629-04
Application #
6925542
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHD1-DSR-A (03))
Program Officer
Newcomer, Susan
Project Start
2002-09-27
Project End
2007-08-31
Budget Start
2005-09-01
Budget End
2006-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$313,701
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Kwazulu-Natal
Department
Type
DUNS #
637360244
City
Durban
State
Country
South Africa
Zip Code
3630
Beard, Jennifer; Skalicky, Anne; Nkosi, Busisiwe et al. (2018) Challenges of developing a district child welfare plan in South Africa: lessons from a community-engaged HIV/AIDS research project. Glob Health Promot :1757975918774569
Govender, Kaymarlin; Reardon, Candice; Quinlan, Tim et al. (2014) Children's psychosocial wellbeing in the context of HIV/AIDS and poverty: a comparative investigation of orphaned and non-orphaned children living in South Africa. BMC Public Health 14:615
Desilva, Mary Bachman; Skalicky, Anne; Beard, Jennifer et al. (2013) Household dynamics and socioeconomic conditions in the context of incident adolescent orphaning in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Vulnerable Child Youth Stud 8:
Govender, Kaymarlin; Penning, Susan; George, Gavin et al. (2012) Weighing up the burden of care on caregivers of orphan children: the Amajuba District Child Health and Wellbeing Project, South Africa. AIDS Care 24:712-21
Bachman Desilva, Mary; Skalicky, Anne M; Beard, Jennifer et al. (2012) Longitudinal evaluation of the psychosocial wellbeing of recent orphans compared with non-orphans in a school-attending cohort in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Int J Ment Health Promot 14:162-182
Parikh, Anokhi; Desilva, Mary Bachman; Cakwe, Mandisa et al. (2007) Exploring the Cinderella myth: intrahousehold differences in child wellbeing between orphans and non-orphans in Amajuba District, South Africa. AIDS 21 Suppl 7:S95-S103