Educational Disparities in AIDS-affected Communities: Does Orphanhood Confer Unique Vulnerability?

Abstract

To inform policy, our study identifies which populations of AIDS-affected children are in need of educational assistance. Using the 2004–2005 Malawi Integrated Household Survey, multilevel models examine the association between AIDS-related impacts and educational outcomes. Double and maternal orphans are more likely to be out of school and behind in grade level; living with an adult suffering from a potential AIDS-related illness is also associated with disadvantage. These disparities are not explained by poverty status. Where both poverty and AIDS are endemic, both traditional development aid and orphan-specific programming are essential for equitable access to education.

Notes

1. Of 22,282 individuals age 15–49 in the IHS2 sample, only 12 adults reported that they suffered from HIV/AIDS.

2. The WHO case definition for surveillance is at least two major signs (that is weight loss ⩾10% of body weight; chronic diarrhoea for more than one month, prolonged fever for more than one month) in combination with at least one minor sign (persistent cough for more than one month; generalised pruritic dermatitis; history of herpes zoster; oropharyngeal candidiasis; chronic progressive or disseminated herpes simplex infection; generalised lymphadenopathy), or the presence of either Kaposi sarcoma or crypto-coccal meningitis.

3. The purchasing power parity conversion rate was US$1 = 28 MK or Malawian Kawacha at the time of the survey.

4. Six interaction terms (three orphan variables combined with two poverty variables) were tested for each outcome.