Abstract
Background: The lack of Parental supervision, including psycho social problems and decrease access to basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, education and health care are examples of the enormous challenges faced by Vulnerable children (VC). These challenges pushes VC to adopt survival and coping strategies, of which some are exposure variables of sexually transmitted infection including HIV infection. In addition, some of these children were orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV. As such, VC should benefit from a health provider initiated counseling and testing for HIV as recommended by the Nigerian HIV policy. However, focus on screening VC for HIV infection has been abysmal; it is on this premise that this study set out to determine the HIV prevalence of vulnerable children in Jos, Nigeria. Methods: Vulnerable children were sampled from 3 different institutions and from households in 3 different communities in Jos, Plateau State with the assistance of Non-Governmental organizations involved in the care of VC. All VC enrolled were interviewed, clinically examined and screened for HIV based on national protocol and standard. Data generated were analyzed using CDC epi info version 7. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of the 237 children enrolled 145 (61.2%) were male VC while 92(38.8%) were female vulnerable children, giving a male female ratio of 1.0: 0.6. HIV sero - positivity was identified in 9 of the 237 VC giving a prevalence of 3.8%, amongst the study subjects. Out of the 9 HIV positive VC, 7 VC (77.8%) were resident in institutions; only two household VC were HIV positive. There was no statistically significant association between place of residence, age of VC, gender and type of vulnerability and HIV status among the studied population. Conclusion: The HIV prevalence of 3.8% in vulnerable children is enormous and appears to be higher amongst children resident in orphanages than those in household
Highlights
At the outset of the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic, children affected by HIV were referred to as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) orphans; the term “AIDS orphan” was later replaced by the term “Orphans and Vulnerable Children” (OVC) which had better social acceptance [1, 2]
In Nigeria an orphan and vulnerable child is define as any child less than 18 years who has loss mother, father or both; or a child who lacks adequate access to education, health and other social support; or a child who lives in a house with terminally or chronically ill parent(s) or caregiver(s), old/frail grandparents(s) or caregiver(s)
Three Non-Governmental Organization caring for Vulnerable children (VC) were used as contact to households with VC in three sub- urban communities namely Tanchol, Sabon Fobur and Mado village located in Jos south, Jos- east, and Jos- north Local Government Areas (LGA) respectively
Summary
Vulnerable children were sampled from 3 different institutions and from households in 3 different communities in Jos, Plateau State with the assistance of Non-Governmental organizations involved in the care of VC. All VC enrolled were interviewed, clinically examined and screened for HIV based on national protocol and standard. Data generated were analyzed using CDC epi info version 7. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant
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