Learning Objectives Physical needs Emotional Needs Social needs

1

© 2007 Baylor College of Medicine

HIV infected children:

Identifying needs and referral for treatment, care and support services

Teen Club Community Partners Training Programme


Learning Objectives

By the end of the session participants will be able to:

1. State the needs of HIV infected children.

2. Relate the needs of HIV infected children to treatment, care and support services available in their local communities.


The needs of HIV infected children - a review

� All children have needs despite their

HIV or social economic status.

� The needs have to be addressed for children to grow and develop well.

� The needs are - social, physical,

emotional, cognitive, and spiritual


Physical needs

Examples:

� Nutritional

� Healthcare

� Material needs – food, shelter,

clothing

� Economic


Emotional Needs

Examples:

� love, care, security, motivation,

reward, trust, participate and be

heard, a sense of belonging,

� assistance to cope with difficult

circumstances such as stigma or grief and bereavement.


Social needs

Examples:

� To live on the community without

feeling different

� Form friendships, ties and

attachments

2


Spiritual needs

Examples:

� Need for a belief in a higher being which helps children cope with difficulties and develop hope for the future.

� They can trust a higher being to see them through difficult situations.


Cognitive needs

� Formal education

� Informal education

Including:

� Life-skills

� Stimulation

� Knowledge


HIV infected children are vulnerable children

According to Botswana National OVC Guidelines (2008) a vulnerable child:

� Lives in an abusive environment,

� Is neglected,

� Lives in poverty stricken family and is not able to access basic services,

� Is in a child-headed household

� Both parents are sick

� Is HIV infected

� Lives outside family care


Many HIV infected children are orphans

According to Botswana National OVC Guidelines (2008) an orphan is:

� A child below the age of 18 who has

lost one (single) or both married parents biological or adoptive.

� A social orphan is a child below the

age of 18 whose parents are not traceable (STPA 1999)


Children's needs are age and

developmental level specific

� Infancy (0-2 years) stimulation, healthcare, safety, feeding and

nutrition

� Preschool (3-6 years) - Growth and

development monitoring

� School age (7-12 years) – Education, exploration, opportunity, assurance,

information, life-skills development


Children's needs are age and

developmental level specific

� Adolescence (12-18 years), Stable and trusted relationships, safety and

acceptance, emancipation and independence, sexual& reproductive health information

3


The special needs of children with disabilities

should be addressed

� There is a wide range of child

disabling conditions physical, mental, developmental, emotional

and social.

� Some slight, some severe, some

temporary and some permanent.


How to Identify children's needs

� Research and surveys

� Self reports

� Care provider reports

� Educational reports and assessments

� Health provider assessments and

reports

� Other professional reports

� Home visits and assessments


Needs Assessment and Management Process

� Identify

� Assess

� Prioritise

� Intervene

� Refer


Identification and referral to services that provide child treatment, care and

support

� Healthcare

� Home-based care

� Educational facilities

� Church organizations

� Schools

� Support groups

� Other community based services


Summary

� HIV infected children are vulnerable children. Many of them are orphans.

� HIV infected children have special needs imposed on them by the nature of HIV infection.

� The various elements of the community support system need to be brought together to meet the needs of children.

� Identify children in need, intervene where you can and refer them for additional care and support!!!!


THANK YOU

� Thank you to all our Partners

Documents

Learning Objectives Physical needs Emotional Needs Social needs