Living status and support system of children orphaned by AIDS in central China—Description and policy recommendations

Xiaohui Gao, Yu Wu, Yali Luo, Naixing Zhang, Weimin Fang, Yukai Du

Department of Child & Maternal Health Care, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China.
Shenzhen Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, China.

DOI: 10.4236/health.2012.411162                

Abstract

This study aimed to research the living status and support system of children orphaned by AIDS in rural Henan Province. The approach of face-to-face questionnaires research was used to assess 501 children’s current situation while in-depth interview was conducted for the support system research. The age range of the children orphaned by AIDS was 2 - 15 years old and the mean age was 11.10 years. Most children among 2 - 6 years had communication skills with temper control and psychological problems. Children of 7 - 15 years old had the ability to take care of themselves and family members but could not do self-regulation. The support system for children orphaned by AIDS included social support, policies support, education support, and health care support but improvement are needed in the future. Support system can be improved through much more feasible and concrete policies and strategies to guarantee these children’s basic needs and comprehensive development.

Keywords

HIV/AIDS; Orphans; Support System; China

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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