Research on Children and HIV/AIDS

Children affected by HIV/AIDS in early childhood: Report on a Needs Assessment

This assessment was designed as a pre-intervention community needs assessment to determine the current family and community support needs for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The assessment was held with 2 communities in St. James and done through focus group discussions and key informant interviews.

Sixty five (65) persons participated in the focus group discussions, and 11 in key informant interviews. Persons felt powerless or uncertain how, to help affected families or children. There is little understanding of the problems that children undergo.

Caregivers felt ill-prepared to prevent or handle the infected children, or for coping with children affected by infected or dying family members. However, the willingness of adults to respond actively and positively to the needs of children affected was evident.

The recommendations from this assessment were: a) an urgent need for integrated and effective strategies addressing HIV/AIDS education, treatment and care; b) a need for training to overcome longstanding myths and misconceptions; c) a need for the development of critical skills in talking with and counseling children; a need for children to understand what HIV/AIDS is, how to prevent it, and how to keep safe.