AEGiS-14IAC: Psychosocial support to OVC in Kenya helps overcome stigma.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Psychosocial support to OVC in Kenya helps overcome stigma.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrF1211)

Ochieng DS, Muturi CN, Ngunjiri P
Family Health International, Nairobi, Kenya

ISSUES: Stigma against HIV/AIDS causes loss of self-esteem among children clouding their judgement and risk perception leading to risky sexual practices. Parental suffering and death from AIDS inflicts emotional trauma on children whose lack of knowledge of the cause makes them anxious and depressed. Learning the parental status from neighbors through gossip makes children angry and bitter towards their parents. Given that parents are often conservative about sexuality, it becomes hard for the children to comprehend their status.

DESCRIPTION: This paper draws from deliberations of a three-day Kenya National OVC Operational Guidelines Development workshop and the work of IMPACT project. It will describe how psychosocial support through efforts geared towards reduction of stigma are effective in boosting the self worth of OVC. The paper will explore child-to-child (peer education and drama) and adult-to-child (memory book) approaches. Specifically, the KGGA run peer education program with girls in-school forming peer networks in and outside school, SWAK implemented memory project (in collaboration with KENWA and WOFAK) and a participatory program of the School and Community AIDS Prevention Program run by the CfBT. These approaches bring out issues surrounding stigma and begin to change the environment positively. LESSONS LEARNT: OVC situation of the magnitude witnessed in Kenya requires more than relegating the solution to the extended families or institutions which are not well equipped to respond to the psychosocial and emotional needs of OVC. Institutional care is neither financially feasible with numbers of orphans, nor viable in terms of long-term emotional well being of the child. The solution lies with a comprehensive prevention, care and support program.

RECOMMENDATIONS: New tools and approaches exploring meaningful ways of involving the children in the design and implementation of the programs are needed.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Kenya, Parents, Sex Behavior, Psychotherapy, Schools, Family, Self Concept, Social Support, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Stress, Psychological, Health, Health Planning, School Health Services, Child, Human, Adult, Female, Education

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TuOrF1211