Imagining the future: Community perceptions of a family-based economic empowerment intervention for AIDS-orphaned adolescents in Uganda

Perceived social support and psychological wellbeing of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Southwestern Uganda

Evidence points to a correlation between perceived social support and children's psychological well-being globally. However, only a few studies have examined the relationship between perceived social support (PSS) from multiple sources and children's psychological outcomes. Even fewer studies have examined the relationship between perceived social support from multiple sources and the psychological outcomes of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study examines whether PSS from multiple sources (parents/caregivers, teachers, friends and classmates) and family cohesion are independently and collectively associated with the psychological well-being of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Uganda. This study used baseline data from a National Institute of Health (NIH)-funded Suubi-Maka (Hope for families) study, conducted in Southwestern Uganda. A total of 346 child-caregiver dyads from 10 comparable primary schools participated in the study. Multivariate and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to examine: (1) variations in PSS from multiple sources and family cohesion, and (2) the relationship between PSS, family cohesion and children's psychological outcomes, measured by depression, hopelessness, and self-concept. Controlling for participants' demographic and household characteristics, the combined measure of PSS from multiple sources was positively associated with self-concept (b = .32, 95% CI = .23, .41, p ≤ .001) and negatively associated with hopelessness (b = -.19, 95% CI = -.29, -.09, p ≤ .001) and depressive symptoms (b = -.13, 95% CI = -.23, -.03, p ≤ .01). PSS from parents/guardians and teachers was a significant predictor. In addition, family cohesion was positively associated with self-concept (b = .37, 95% CI = .15, .58, p ≤ .001) and negatively associated with depressive symptoms (b = -.36, 95%CI = -.59, -.13, p≤ = .01). Findings indicate that family cohesion and perceived social support, especially from parent/caregivers and teachers were associated with better children's psychological outcomes. In HIV-impacted communities, interventions designed to strengthen family relationships and social support are essential to offset children's psychological well-being.

AIDS-Affected Orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review on Outcome Differences in Rural and Urban Environments

Currently, there are more than 11 million AIDS-affected orphans that suffer from various adverse effects, most of whom reside in sub-Saharan Africa. The difference between whether a child resides in a rural or urban environment can have a significant role in a child's education, health status and access to healthcare, and social or family relationships. A scoping review was conducted in order to understand any possible environment-based differences on orphans directly affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. There were 233 sources used for this review; however, 164 manuscripts focused more so on a general review of orphans within a rural or urban environment. Thus, after eliminating for various factors, 69 manuscripts were removed, which focused primarily on the social aspect of orphans due to HIV/AIDS. Rural environments provided more family support, while urban environments generally had more resources available to orphans (e.g. school fees). Unfortunately, both rural and urban environments were found to be fairly non-supportive of orphans and their development. This scoping review found, in general, that orphans in both urban and rural environments continue to suffer from the consequential effects of low parental support due to AIDS mortality. These conclusions suggest that specific support to orphans through school and social relationships encourage better development outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Child development accounts (CDAs): An asset-building strategy to empower girls in Uganda

This study explores an innovative intervention for orphaned children in Uganda. It combines standard health care with an economic empowerment component. We refer to this combination as a family asset-based intervention, which provides each child with a child development account (CDA), a matched savings account for secondary schooling; financial education; and a mentor. This article examines the educational outcomes of the girls in this study. The results from the first two waves of the study indicate that CDAs have the potential to begin to help negate the effects of past gender inequalities and to help provide a path for young girls to move forward.