To investigate the extent to which under-five HIV positive children access Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) : a case of Siavonga District of Southern Province of Zambia

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The impact of HIV/AIDS has affected all categories of people in society, including children under the age of five. This segment of the population depends entirely on adults and older children in order for them to survive. This research endeavoured to investigate the extent to which under-five HIV positive children access ART in Siavonga District in the Southern Province of Zambia. The necessity of such information for all cannot be over-emphasised as this category of the population under study is among the most neglected when it comes to issues of HIV/AIDS. Under-five HIV positive children need special attention in order for them to enjoy their right to survival and development.In terms of methodology, the research took an interpretive approach as it employed the qualitative methodology in its endeavours, in order to get an in-depth understanding of people's views on the topic under research. Different interview schedules were used to collect data from community members, Community Health Workers (CHW), Home-based Care Providers (HBCP), staff of the Ministry of Health and District AIDS Task Force (DATF).The findings of this research addressed all the objectives but one. This research revealed that almost all the community members in Siavonga District had general knowledge about HIV/AIDS and the need for under-five HIV positive children accessing antiretroviral therapy. However, their attitudes and practices varied when it came to the application of this knowledge.According to respondents, the major challenges that under-five HIV positive children were facing when it came to accessing ART were as follows: food insecurity, followed by access to health facilities and social matters. Others included stigma and discrimination, long distances to health facilities, inadequate disposable income at household level and negative attitudes by some people who think that it is a waste of time and resources to give too much attention, including ART to under-five HIV positive children whom according to them will die soon. However, the majority of respondents indicated that there was need to accept these children like any other as they too had the right to live; hence, they needed care and support which included facilitating their access to ART.This research was an eye opener to all duty bearers to recognize and acknowledge the importance of under-five HIV positive children's access to ART. This will contribute towards enhancing the will to step up efforts for this intervention. From the findings, it is evident that there is need for income generating activities to provide disposable income to people of Siavonga District so that they give appropriate support, particularly to children who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, more resources are required from NGOs, government and other stakeholders to enhance not only sensitization on the importance of the target population's access to ART, but also provision of these ART services. All relevant stakeholders should heed the call to aggregate information for under-five HIV positive children in question so as to specially target interventions accordingly.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University