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The risk of HIV/AIDS among children has received little attention in South Africa; however, it appears that children run a much greater risk of contracting the disease than previously thought. Findings from the first national HIV prevalence study among children, released by the HSRC, shows that prevalence among children in the 2-9 age group is 6.2%. However, in the 10-14 age group the prevalence figure is less, namely 4.7%. As this is the first study of HIV risk in South African children, these findings will be investigated further in a follow-up study later this year. This new study, the National Household HIV Prevalence and Risk Survey of South African Children, is funded by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and presents a further analysis of the data collected for the 2002 Nelson Mandela/HSRC Study of HIV/AIDS. A total of 3 988 children and teenagers participated in the survey. Most of these, namely 3 294 individuals (82.6%), provided an oral fluid specimen for HIV testing. Caregivers answered questionnaires on behalf of the 2 138 children in the 2-11 age group. In the 12 –14 age group, 740 children answered a separate questionnaire, and in the 15 - 18 age group, 1 110 teenagers answered a youth questionnaire. The main objectives of the study were to: determine the HIV prevalence among South African children; identify social and community risk factors that predispose children to HIV infection; determine the number of orphans and child-headed households to assist in proper planning and to intervene where necessary; assess children's knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention – an important factor in children's vulnerability to HIV infection.
The data shows that 3.3% of the children are orphans who lost a mother, and one tenth of children have lost a parent by the time they were nine years old. By the age of 14, 5% (five percent) have lost a parent. In the 15-18 age group, almost 25% have lost at least one parent. When it came to the issue of households headed by a child, the survey showed that 3% of children 12-18 years of age said they were the head of the household. Overall, 0.6% of households claimed to be headed by a child between 14-18 years of age. Although this finding is higher than the 0.25% from a previous survey, namely the 1999 October Household Survey, the authors point out that South Africa may not yet have experienced the full impact of HIV/AIDS regarding orphans and child-headed households and that the worst is still to come. It also showed that children who have a higher risk of getting HIV/AIDS are African. 45% of children who participated in the survey live in homes where there is not enough money for food and clothing; 12.7% of the surveyed households with at least one child in the 2-14 age group, ran businesses from home – such as spaza shops and taverns; almost 32% of children are exposed to someone in their home and neighbourhood who is drunk once a month.
Besides mother-to-child infections of HIV/AIDS, the study identified three components that make children vulnerable to HIV infection: unsafe environments; a lack of care and protection of children; and a lack of knowledge and communication about sex and HIV/AIDS. Download the full document from the HSRC website for free, or order a copy from www.hsrcpress.ac.za.
Notes to Editors The report was presented by Dr Olive Shisana at the 2nd African Conference on Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research held in Cape Town from 9-12 May. Dr Shisana is the Executive Director of the Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Health Research Programme of the Human Sciences Research Council. The authors of the report are: Dr Heather Brookes, a Senior Research Specialist at the HSRC's Child, Youth and Family Development (CYFD) Research Programme, Dr Shisana, and Professor Linda Richter, Executive Director of CYFD. The full title of the report is The National Household HIV Prevalence and Risk Survey of South African Children (2004)
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