Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Psychosocial Development of Children

Abstract

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the leading cause of death in children under age five, in many parts of Africa and South East Asia. The interval between exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the development of AIDS is shorter in children than in adults. Infants infected with HIV have a high chance of developing AIDS within one year and dying before age three. In the remainder, AIDS progresses more slowly; the average child patient survives to adolescence. In the past, the world has faced many pandemics like cholera and plague. At the turn of the 20th century, the world faced influenza pandemic [1]. Every fifty to sixty years, the world has faced a new disease that has been of the nature of an epidemic. These diseases have left a trail of death and morbidity. There has been widespread fear and stigma attached to the victims due to ignorance and fear. As the diseases have progressed people have made efforts to study the issues. They have found the cause, spread, cures, and vaccines to prevent the spread of the disease. The aim of the study is to know the Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Psychosocial Development of Children and the objectives are to study the knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS. And to study the psychosocial problems faced by the children. In this regard, the researcher conducted a survey of 50 samples of children below the age group of 18 from the community.