Abstract : A 4-month study of children orphaned by AIDS involved holding interviews with 128 orphans and 32 of their caretakers during 1994 in Kisumu, Busia, Kitui, and Mombasa. Kisumu has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Kenya; Busia District, on the Kenya/Uganda border, has high infection rates; Kitui is a remote district in the Eastern province; and Mombasa is a tourist town in Coast province, one of the country's enclaves of HIV/AIDS infection with the largest number of prostitutes in the country. While there were some socioeconomic differences among the orphans, most children lived in extreme poverty. AIDS, especially when combined with poverty, places great stress upon traditional care structures, causing extreme adjustments in households. The desire to assure family survival was found to be a major priority for the orphans, although economic factors are weighted heavily against this. The adaptability and strength of Kenya's families are a critical element in the survival of social networks. The study identified 288 children who have lost their fathers, 240 who have lost their mothers, and 80 who have lost both parents. These orphans are discussed, followed by discussion of the types of caretakers who foster orphans and the needs of orphans.
Notes : English
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