Estimates of the number of motherless youth orphaned by AIDS in the United States
Article Abstract:
The number of children and adolescents orphaned by AIDS could grow explosively during the 1990's, causing a social catastrophe of unimagined proportions. Data on the number of children and adolescents whose mothers would die of AIDs were based on estimations of the number of women who would die of AIDS and their fertility rates, adjusted for infant mortality and childhood deaths from AIDS. An estimated 18,500 US children and adolescents had been orphaned by AIDS by 1991. Projections indicate that 80,000 to 120,000 children and adolescents could be orphaned by the year 2000 if the epidemic spreads at the current rate. Many of the mothers will be African-American or Hispanic, and their families already reside in poor communities marked by drug abuse, poverty and violence. These children will place great demands on the social services in their communities.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1992
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The 'silent' legacy of AIDS: children who survive their parents and siblings
Article Abstract:
A recent report estimates that 18,500 children have been orphaned by AIDS and that their numbers could increase to 82,000 by the year 2000. And it is likely that these are underestimates. In addition, the report did not address infants of HIV-infected women who are placed in foster care at birth. Many of these children will live in poverty, and may be unwilling to contact social service agencies because of the stigma surrounding AIDS. It is crucial to identify HIV-infected women and see that they get appropriate treatment. In addition, the health care professionals caring for the mother should encourage her to name a guardian to care for her children when she dies. Foster care programs that follow HIV-infected children should be expanded to include uninfected children of HIV-infected mothers. These programs could also train and certify guardians.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1992
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The loneliness of the long-term care giver
Article Abstract:
A woman describes her experience caring for her husband after he was seriously injured in a car accident. She had to struggle to get adequate home care to help her take care of him and had to deal with a fragmented home care system. She was unable to get Medicare or her managed care company to pay for needed equipment. She felt completely abandoned by the traditional health care system. She discusses ways to help caregivers do a better job.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1999
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