Abstract
An increasing number of children born with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are surviving well into adolescence and adulthood. This is a direct result of the roll-out of antiretroviral therapy to those infected. This study investigated the challenges facing children born with HIV in one rural school in the Oshikoto region of Namibia. The sample of the study constituted six learners who were purposively selected. Semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire were used to collect data. The results reveal that children know their HIV status and were mostly informed of their status by their caregivers. All the children are on antiretroviral treatment in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) antiretroviral therapy guidelines, that recommends the initiation of treatment regardless of CD4 count or clinical stage. The results further showed that adherence to treatment remains a problem exacerbated by the secrecy around the virus. Children reported HIV related stigma and discrimination at the hands of adults or peers. Some participants reported feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, isolation and depression. The children’s education is also negatively affected by the HIV -positive status. As with other vulnerable children, the HIV-infected child faces many barriers to learning. The study recommends a comprehensive HIV education programme for all Namibians to mitigate the effects that come with misconceptions and a lack of understanding regarding the virus.
Highlights
The word child refers to a person from the time they were born until they are about 14 years old or marks a period of transition from infancy to childhood [1]
The situation in many developing countries, including Namibia, is made even worse by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
On the participants’ living arrangements, only one participant lives with both of her Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo and Anna Niitembu Hako: Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case
Summary
The word child refers to a person from the time they were born until they are about 14 years old or marks a period of transition from infancy to childhood [1]. The government of the Republic of Namibia, in the Child Care and Protection Act, defines a child as a person who has not yet attained the age of 18 [2] Children today find it difficult to transition into adults because of the many challenges they face in their daily lives. To mitigate the transmission of HIV from mother to child, a programme called Prevention of the Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) was introduced in state hospitals in Namibia in 2003 [5] It is International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science 2019; 5(1): 76-81 estimated that without interventions, about 20% to 45% of babies born to HIV-positive mothers become infected with HIV. The roll-out of the antiretroviral therapy has seen many babies who were born with HIV survive well into adulthood
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