According to the first national HIV prevalence study among South African children, conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), it appears that children run a much greater risk of contracting HIV-Aids than previously thought.
Releasing the results of the new study on Wednesday at the second African Conference on Social Aspects of HIV/Aids Research in Cape Town, HSRC executive director Dr Olive Shisana said it showed that prevalence among children in the two to nine age group was 6,7%, higher than previously expected. However, in the 10-14 age group the prevalence figure was less, at 4,7%.
Shisana said that the findings would be investigated further in a follow-up study later in the year.
The new study, called the National Household HIV Prevalence and Risk Survey of South African Children, was funded by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and presented 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, with most (82,6%) providing 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.
Shisana said 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; and assess children’s knowledge of HIV/Aids prevention, an important factor in children’s vulnerability to HIV infection.
The data showed that 3,3% of the children were orphans who had lost a mother, while 10% of the children had lost a parent by the time they were nine years old. By the age of 14, 5% had lost a parent. In the 15-18 age group, almost 25% had 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 was higher than the 0,25% from a previous survey (the 1999 October Household Survey), the authors pointed 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 was still to come.
The study also highlighted that children who had a higher risk of getting HIV/Aids were African by race. Meanwhile, 45% of children who participated in the survey lived in homes where there was insufficient money for food and clothing; and 12,7% of the surveyed households with at least one child in the two to fourteen age group, ran businesses from home — such as spaza shops and taverns.
It also showed that almost 32% of the participating children were exposed to someone in their home and neighbourhood who was drunk at least once a month.
Besides mother-to-child transmitted infections of HIV/Aids, the study identified three components that made 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.
The authors of the report were: 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. – I-Net Bridge