Protective factors that support Orphans and Vulnerable Children school attendance in Zambia

Africa remains the epicenter of the global HIV and AIDS epidemic. In Zambia, where estimated HIV prevalence is 13.5% as of 2009, mortality and protracted illness from AIDS has created a generation of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) often cared for by chronically ill caregivers. A direct correlation exists between the increased prevalence of OVC and increases in child labor, child prostitution, sexual exploitation, and juvenile delinquency. Research suggests that school-based HIV programs are a crucial strategy to both prevent HIV and provide support for vulnerable youth. This research sought to identify positive protective factors for OVCs that contribute to improved school attendance.  Results aim to inform future culturally and contextually specific interventions that could further bolster school attendance that is generalizable to other populations.

Quantitative and qualitative results are triangulated to identify protective factors for school attendance. 2009 National Zambia Sexual Behavior Survey was analyzed using data collected from a nationally-representative sample of interviews for 475 OVC households compared to 1,176 households for non-OVCs. Qualitative data was collected from 6 focus groups with school-attending OVC (16 males, 18 females).

Results indicate that number of school-age children in a home is related to school attendance. For OVC households there is a significant relationship between schooling support and school attendance (r=0.12, p<.01).Finally, a negative relationship between OVC and step-parents appears to negatively influence school attendance.  In conclusion, this work supports considerations for targeted capacity building for education as a sustainable community-based approach to support those most vulnerable.