Abstract #376  -  How supportive is the social network of AIDS orphans and other orphaned children in Conakry and Guinea?
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Ms Petra De Koker - Ghent University
Additional Authors:  MD An Vercoutere, MD Wim Delva, MSc., PhD Stijn Vansteelandt, MSc., PhD J Lamah, MD C Loua, MD, PhD Marleen Temmerman, MA, PhD Lieven Annemans,
Aim: Compared to their peers with healthy living parents, AIDS orphans are faced with additional challenges to their development. Mapping child social support and neglect is a prerequisite for targeted interventions aimed at preventing and minimizing the negative consequences of AIDS-related mortality. This study aims to get insight in the structure and strength of social networks of children in Conakry and Guinea.
Method / Issue: In August/ September 2006, a cross-sectional survey among 397 children aged 10-18 years was conducted. Purposive quota sampling techniques were used to recruit children in each region. We assessed the degree of social support received by non-orphaned non-AIDS-affected children (NO), children orphaned by causes other than AIDS (O), non-orphaned AIDS-affected children (NO-A) and children orphaned by AIDS (O-A) as well as the level and nature of abuse and neglect experienced by AIDS orphans in Guinea. The associations between the orphan status and levels of social support received from family members, people surrounding the family, the community in general and the religious community were investigated. The potentially confounding effects of age, sex, religion, region, maternal versus paternal orphanhood and number of minors in the household on these associations were assessed via multiple ordinal logistic regression models. We quantified the strength of the peer-network by measuring the number of friends, the level of acceptance by friends and the frequency of experiencing difficulties making friends. Data analysis was performed with R version 2.4.1.
Results / Comments: The mean age of the children was 13.8 (SD 2.5) and the majority was male (230/397, 58%). Significantly more O-A than O had lost both parents (P = 0.02). Most O-A (118/124, 95.2%) reported to have experienced at least one of the seven forms of abuse and neglect measured by the survey. There were no significant gender differences. Being criticized (76.6%), insulted or neglected (69.4%) were most common. Neighbours and other community members were univocally pointed out by O-A as perpetrators of these acts. Other children, guardians and teachers were named by 56%, 24.2% and 15.3% respectively. O-A were less likely to have received support from family members (AOR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.14 0.44) and from the community than other orphans (AOR = 0.56) but the latter difference was not significant (95% CI: 0.24 - 1.29; P = 0.22). NO and O reported a median of 10 friends and 7 friends respectively, this number was only 2 for O-A. Significantly more O-A did not have any friends, compared to O (OR = 8.70; 95% CI: 2.69 39.65; P < 0.001).
Discussion: Our study demonstrates that O-A are severely abused and neglected, and receive less social support. Although O-A are worst off, acts of abuse and neglect and lack of support were also observed for NO and O. Additionally, O-A have a sparse network of friends compared to O and NO. Comprehensive, non-discriminatory interventions need to be scaled up. It is thereby imperative to make sure that these interventions are inclusive and target all vulnerable children in need of support, not just AIDS orphans.
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