Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia

Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo; Anna Niitembu Hako

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20

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Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia

Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo, Anna Niitembu Hako

Published in International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 5, Issue 1)

Received: 7 May 2019 Accepted: 11 June 2019 Published: 24 June 2019

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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.

Published in	International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 5, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20
Page(s)	76-81
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

HIV/AIDS, Children, Psycho-Social, Education

References

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Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo, Anna Niitembu Hako. (2019). Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 5(1), 76-81. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20

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Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo; Anna Niitembu Hako. Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2019, 5(1), 76-81. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20

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AMA Style

Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo, Anna Niitembu Hako. Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2019;5(1):76-81. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20

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@article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20,
  author = {Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo and Anna Niitembu Hako},
  title = {Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia},
  journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {76-81},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20190501.20},
  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.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia
AU - Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo
AU - Anna Niitembu Hako
Y1 - 2019/06/24
PY - 2019
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20
DO - 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20
T2 - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JF - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JO - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
SP - 76
EP - 81
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2575-5765
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20
AB - 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.
VL - 5
IS - 1
ER -

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Author Information

Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo

Department of Educational Psychology and Inclusive Education, University Namibia, Rundu, Namibia
Anna Niitembu Hako

Department of Educational Psychology and Inclusive Education, University Namibia, Ongwediva, Namibia

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Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo, Anna Niitembu Hako. (2019). Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 5(1), 76-81. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20

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ACS Style

Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo; Anna Niitembu Hako. Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2019, 5(1), 76-81. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20

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AMA Style

Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo, Anna Niitembu Hako. Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2019;5(1):76-81. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20

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@article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20,
  author = {Emilia Ndapandula Mbongo and Anna Niitembu Hako},
  title = {Challenges Facing Children Born with HIV: A Case Study of One Rural Schoolin Oshikoto Region of Namibia},
  journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
  volume = {5},
  number = {1},
  pages = {76-81},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20190501.20},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20190501.20},
  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.},
 year = {2019}
}

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