Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108541

Brian H. Howard, MPH, Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas School of Public Health, 7000 Fannin, Suite 2056 K, Houston, TX 77030, 713-688-0893, brianhoward58@hotmail.com

Background: Programs for Africa's 13.4 million children orphaned by AIDS have sought to meet the children's urgent needs for food, shelter, and schooling. Yet the epidemic's cumulative traumas leave orphans at high risk of psychosocial problems, with life-long consequences for the children and the societies they are expected to sustain. This study sought to describe the psychosocial well-being and grieving experiences of 252 orphans in rural eastern Zimbabwe. Methods: As part of a baseline study for a program for families affected by AIDS, 143 double orphans, 109 single orphans, and 87 non-orphans from 34 primary and secondary schools were interviewed about their economic circumstances, physical and emotional health, grieving and memorial experiences, perceptions of fostering, and knowledge of HIV. Results: Orphans did more poorly than non-orphans on most measures of economic and psychosocial well-being; levels were low in all groups. Symptoms of depression and anxiety may go unrecognized by foster caregivers. Double orphans did not report widespread mistreatment but experienced isolation, lack of support, and discrimination. The youngest were most likely to be distressed. Many double orphans had not discussed their future with their parents, had not received counseling, owned no keepsakes, did not engage in memorial activities, had no one to talk to about their parents, and preferred to forget them. Conclusions: Orphans receive little preparation or assistance to help them recover from parental death. Economic support must remain the top aid priority, but research and aid programs cannot afford to ignore psychosocial aspects of the AIDS epidemic.

Learning Objectives: After this presentation, participants will be able to

• Articulate the individual and societal effects of inadequate psychosocial support for orphans.
• Identify types of preparation and recovery assistance orphans should be and are not receiving.
• Identify ways to help biological parents with HIV and foster caregivers better serve their children’s psychosocial needs.
• Describe ways to incorporate preparation and assistance for recovery from parental death in existing AIDS programs.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation