Research Proposal

Reaching Out to HIV /AIDS Infected Children in Remote Areas of Africa

Abstract

Although statistics have shown decreases in HIV /AIDS prevalence and incidence in South Africa due to better medicines prevention /intervention programs and volunteer organization support the number of people diagnosed with HIV /AIDS is the highest in the world This study examines current prevention and intervention programs implemented in South Africa focused on children and attempts to discover the most successful of the evaluated programs and why it has been successful

South Africa has the highest HIV

/AIDS (AVERT . The focus of this study is on the children of South Africa both diagnosed HIV /AIDS and uninfected . The purpose of studying both groups of children is to investigate current methods of medical and educational intervention and prevention . This is a field research study of existing literature and studies as means of identifying factors of decreasing HIV /AIDS infections among children of South Africa . Most AIDS organizations consider the definition of a child as a person fifteen years of age or younger even though International Law considers children to be any person under the age of eighteen (Berry , 2006 . Most literature concerning children with HIV /AIDS discusses children age fifteen or younger therefore , this study will focus on this age frame as well . It should be noted however , that this miscommunication of age ranges can cause the reporting of inaccurate statistics

Statement of the Problem

Children in South Africa are affected by the AIDS pandemic on many levels . The most common instances of child HIV /AIDS contraction is mother-to-child transmission , medical infection and infection through sex and drugs (Berry , 2006 . Over one million children have been orphaned by AIDS (AVERT . Forty percent of children under the age of five die from AIDS . Literacy rates are poorest , and unemployment is the highest among provinces with a high population of children . Children are lacking education over one million South African children do not go to school for various reason , including , malnutrition , far distances from school , lack of resources and the general lack of parental education (AVERT . Social services have limited abilities with many of South Africa 's children because many are not registered at least half (AVERT

HIV affects a child in the form of the child himself , family and community (Berry , 2006 . Many children are forced to act as adults by becoming the wage earners to pay for the medical bills of their parents who are too sick to work because of HIV /AIDS . The community is affected by the loss of important members of society such as school teachers and mayors

HIV Treatment , Testing and Care Methods

HIV progresses differently in children than adults (AVERT , which is why it is imperative that children have access to medical staff specifically trained in child HIV treatment . Unfortunately , highly-affected African countries ' have little to no medical care (AVERT . There are delays in providing needed tests and drugs to areas of high poverty , which are available in wealthy areas

If infected with...