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Abstract
Caring for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-orphaned children is an emerging priority in public health and international development studies. This article presents the first known systematic review of the research literature on carers of AIDS-orphaned children. Twenty-nine studies of caregivers of AIDS-orphaned children were identified and assessed, the majority of which were conducted in the developing world. The main foci of these studies included identifying the individuals who were providing care, assessing the capacity of the extended family to care for rising numbers of AIDS-orphaned children, and exploring the process of care placement. Fewer studies examined the caregiving experience in depth, including challenges entailed by caring for AIDS-orphaned children and effects of orphan caregiving on caregivers' health and wellbeing. The article concludes with suggestions for future research which can guide policy and programming efforts.