Factors that make children vulnerable to HIV/AIDS : a case of Lindi District Council

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tanzania has documented risky and abusive behaviors to children, 10% of young people 15-19 years old have had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 15 years. 38.3% of girls and 30.7% of boys aged 13 -17 years old experienced three or more incidence of sexual violence. UNICEF highlights the critical information gap in adolescence hindering strategic planning to address the needs and rights of children. This study aimed at determining what the factors are that make children vulnerable to HIV; design interventions that address children's vulnerabilities and prevent HIV infection.This was interpretive qualitative study using focus group discussions and semi structured interviews in determining factors that make children vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Interpretive validity was used to ensure accuracy of study findings. The data was collected from a sample of 2 social welfare officers, 18 most vulnerable children aged 11–17 years and 18 caregivers of respondent children. The research used purposive sampling and stratified random sampling in selection of respondents. The data analysis was done through coding the information collected then categorizing into themes. The interpretation was guided by comparison of findings with existing literature. The researcher obtained Certificates of ethical clearance from Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research and The Research Ethics Committee at Stellenbosch University.The study found that all respondent had awareness of HIV. Caregivers were able to articulate two main routes of HIV transmission. While sexual transmission of HIV came up in all groups; knowledge of mother to child transmission of HIV did not come out during the discussion. Some parents demonstrated a degree of denial of reality about their children's sexual relations; none of the parents could validate their position.Entertainment in the community was perceived as a contributing factor to HIV vulnerability of children. Parents expressed hardship in controlling children because the time children spend in entertainment is when they are involved in activities including meeting with men and have sex. Lack of parental guidance was associated with the culture of rite of passage. Poverty and parental irresponsibility were associated with prevalence of transactional sex while culture was said to be a factor for trans-generational sex. Child abuse came out strongly from the men's group as contributing to children's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. It was reported men and women alike in the community are perpetrators of child abuse.Children recommended education on HIV/AIDS and moral/ religious practices to address children vulnerability. Women proposed Government actions against people living with HIV/AIDS that depicted stigma and discrimination in the society. These included requiring the Government to give people living with HIV drugs to control their sexual desires or imprison them as a way to keep them away from children and leaving the community free from HIV.Interventions for addressing vulnerability to HIV/AIDS for children in this context should focus on empowering children and parents, promote behavior change and address economic blockade. This study recommends interventions focusing on improving access to information and health services and household economic strengthening.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University