The orphan status of HIV/AIDS infected children in Sokoto, north western Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa bears the highest burden of the HIV/AIDS pandemic with most children infected vertically. Some of these infected children bears additional burden of losing one or both parents to the disease- thus, exacerbating a myriad of deprivations.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence, socio-economic and health status of orphans among HIV-infected children in Sokoto.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among HIV-infected children attending the pediatric HIV clinic, UDUTH, Sokoto between June and October, 2018. The socio-economic status was determined using Oyedeji's classification, while the health status of orphans was determined using their history of previous admission in the last 1 year and nutritional status. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Statistical significance was taken at 0.05.

Results: One hundred thirty-eight HIV positive children were studied, 57 (41.5%) were orphans with 30 (52.9%), 18 (32.4%) and 8 (14.7%) being paternal, maternal and double orphans respectively. The modal age was 10 years with 32 (55.9%) of orphans above the age of 10 years. M:F ratio approximately 1:1. Mother was the main caregivers in 25 (44.1%) cases. Forty (32.4%) of the orphans’ care givers were of lower socio-economic status (p=0.60). Twentythree (40.4%) of the orphans had fallen ill warranting admission ?3 times in the last 1 year (p=0.0001). Twenty-one (36.8%) of the orphans were found to be malnourished (p=0.0001).

Conclusion: The prevalence HIV/AIDS orphan was high and majority was paternal orphans with a poor socioeconomic background and a poor health status. This underscores the need for supportive care especially in our society.

Key words: Orphan, Children, HIV/AIDS, Socio-economic, Health, Status.