Ending Child Marriage and Stopping the Spread of HIV: Opportunities and challenges for action

This desk review by the African Union Commission and RIATT-ESA examines some of the existing literature to highlight what is known about the links between child marriage and HIV, and spotlights opportunities for further action.

Very few studies have explicitly explored the two phenomena. Given recent increases in the number of adolescent girls who are HIV-positive and the high numbers and rates of child marriage in countries with high HIV prevalence, the data do suggest a correlation between ending child marriage and stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS. Concerted action on both is undoubtedly needed. Ending child marriage should immediately be included in HIV programming, and can likely contribute to preventing, treating, stopping and eradicating HIV/AIDS. 

Click here to download the full report. 

HIV Stigma: Perspectives from Kenyan Child Caregivers and Adolescents Living with HIV

Stigma shapes all aspects of HIV prevention and treatment, yet there are limited data on how HIV-infected youth and their families are affected by stigma in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors of this research conducted a qualitative study using focus group discussions among 39 HIV-infected adolescents receiving care at HIV clinics in western Kenya and 53 caregivers of HIV-infected children.

It was found that despite the high prevalence of HIV and increasing access to HIV-related services, HIV-infected adolescents and caregivers in western Kenya describe an environment in which HIV/AIDS-related stigma remains a major part of everyday life for HIV infected and affected individuals. These findings are critical to inform next steps and to move toward ending HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.

Click here to download the full research report

A foot in the door

A report on the Child Community Care study evaluating the effect of Community Based Organisation support on Child wellbeing in HIV affected communities. 

This report highlights the important role CBO's play in providing support and services for children living in high HIV affected environments who are exposed to a number of risks and who are highly vulnerable to risks to their psychosocial development.

Some of the key findings include: 

• Cash transfers show promise for enhancing child wellbeing. When cash is combined with good care, the effects are enhanced. CBOs have multiple possibilities for contributing to
• the care elements and these should be included in cash transfer programmes to maximize their impact.
• Cognitive and developmental challenge for children infected, affected and living in high HIV environments is a challenge. CBOs are well placed to provide support and this should be a priority.
• In the HIV response, children infected with HIV, exposed to HIV in utero and those living in a household with any member who is HIV positive should be prioritized for care.
• Mental health of caregivers is an important factor in child development. CBOs are well placed to provide support for caregivers and a family approach which is inclusive and extends to wider family members should be routine

Ongoing funding for such organisations is an important provision to ensure the holistic
provision of direct services to young children and the families.

Click here to download the full report

2nd EAC Child Rights Conference Recommendations

The 2nd EAC Child Rights Conference concludedin Nairobi, Kenya, 26 August 2016 with the participants formulating several recommendations that reaffirm the strong commitment of the region in promoting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of all children in the bloc.

Click here to download recommendations

Preliminary Research Into the Extent, Factors and Effects of Child Marriage.

"Every year, an estimated 15 million girls aged under 18 are married worldwide with little or no say in the matter." Child marriage as a social construct, ruptures childhood and exposes young married girls to early sexuality, pregnancy and childbearing, and has severe health and social consequences generally denying girls their rights.

This research VSO investigated the extent and factors that cause child marriages in three countries: Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The research explores the impact of child marriage, the causes of child marriage, the legal framework age of marriage and the countries responses to reduce child marriage. 

Key recommendations include:  

• The developing and implementing of national action plans to end child marriage
• Empowering girls to mitigate against child marriage
• Community mobilization against child marriage
• Provision of services to mitigate against child marriage
• Advocacy for countries to address the problem of child marriage
• Enabling legal and policy environment 

Click here to download the full research.