Lost youth: children and AIDS in Africa.

Among the many devastating consequences of the AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa the rapidly growing orphan population demands particular attention. Today over 12 million children in the region have been orphaned by AIDS and numbers are rising rapidly. Millions more are living with chronically-ill parents and about three million children are themselves infected with the virus. Estimates differ but some organizations predict a tripling in the numbers of orphans in the next five years. Many orphans are adolescents -- some 50% within the 10-14 year age range according to DHS data. There are also many children who though not orphans are becoming vulnerable as a direct or indirect result of HIV and AIDS. When parents fall sick particularly in poor families children come under intense stress that may continue in different forms for the rest of their lives. They may be taken out of school to farm land or to take part in income-generating activities. They may also become caregivers themselves or even heads of households. In many cases such children become increasingly vulnerable to malnutrition ill-health abuse and exploitation. There are psychosocial effects which although under-researched are potentially very damaging encompassing these stresses both in the short and long term. While there are many different aspects to vulnerability (eg biological economic emotional) the focus in this short article is on the food and nutrition dimension. The reader is referred to Gillespie et al for discussion of the wider aspects of vulnerability and policy responses. (excerpt)