Children in the shadow of AIDS

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of children affected by HIV/AIDS in three provinces of South Africa. By combining findings from two studies that focus on households at different stages of impact, the paper looks at the conditions of vulnerable children living in homes with HIV positive family members; children at risk of becoming orphans (i.e., children living with HIV positive primary caregivers); and children ‘orphaned.’ It also considers the conditions of other household members affected at each of these stages. The paper is concerned with understanding more about their daily lives, and about informal and formal forms of support available to them at each of these stages.