AEGiS-15IAC: Assessing the impact of HIV/AIDS on child poverty in Kenya.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Assessing the impact of HIV/AIDS on child poverty in Kenya.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. ThOrD1379)

Narangui H, Ndolo C, Crosskey AF
Save the Children, Nairobi, Kenya

ISSUES: In June 2000, national HIV prevalence rates in Kenya were 14%, rising to 30% in some rural areas. In addition to this, 56% of Kenya's population (including 8.6. million children) are living below the poverty line.

DESCRIPTION: In an attempt to understand the impact that HIV/AIDS is having on child poverty, Save the Children, UK, initiated a study in 2001 that aimed to support and promote a better understanding of child poverty in Kenya with specific reference to social protection and food security. This study assessed how reductions in household income caused by HIV/AIDS impacted on the lives of children. In particular the study looked at the impact of declining household incomes on children's access to food, health care, education and psycho-social support.

LESSONS LEARNED: Lessons learned from this study included: Among the rural poor, having one household member who is HIV+ can reduce income by 30-50%. Declining household incomes as a result of HIV/AIDS have significant impacts on the psycho-social health of a child. This is due to increased risk of abuse, reductions in the care of a child, and reduced access to school and peer groups. HIV/AIDS also has significant impacts on food security. As natural family care structures break down, children's nutritional needs become difficult to meet. At the same time, a lack of control by widows over their land, compromises the family's food security.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendations arising from this study include: Child poverty monitoring indicators should be integrated into national AIDS policies and programmes. Donors, national governments and NGOs need to have a better understanding of child poverty issues in order to more effectively respond to the economic impacts of HIV/AIDS on families.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Poverty, HIV Infections, Demography, Population, Public Policy, Kenya, Research, Prevalence, Child Welfare, Child, Humans, education

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