Aids, Orphans, and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of the Dilemma of Public Health and Development

Joe L.P Lugalla
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Joe L.P Lugalla: Department of Anthropology, University of New Hampshire, 316 Huddleston Hall, Durham, NH, 03824, USAjlpl@cisunix.unh.edu Lugalla@hotmail.com

Journal of Developing Societies, 2003, vol. 19, issue 1, 26-46

Abstract: HIV/AIDS is having devastating consequences on families, young children, and other vulnerable social groups. In this paper, I review the impact of HIV/AIDS on families and development in sub-Saharan Africa. I begin by showing the magnitude of the problem and the factors that have led to rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in this sub-continent. I discuss gender inequality, poverty, social inequality, and globalization, and show how these facilitate the rapid spread of the epidemic. I show how AIDS is creating a mass of orphans on the one hand, and how it is impacting development and creating new public health contradictions on the other. By orphans I mean all those children who have lost either a mother or father or both parents due to AIDS. I argue that AIDS is destroying families and communities and is also manufacturing a great number of orphaned children who are powerless and vulnerable. In order to solve this problem, I suggest the adoption of appropriate, pragmatic, and realistic short-and long-term strategies of dealing with the problem. I conclude by suggesting that the long-term strategy aimed at reducing the number of orphaned children will involve the adoption of appropriate strategies that seek to control HIV/AIDS once and for all.

Date: 2003
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jodeso:v:19:y:2003:i:1:p:26-46

DOI: 10.1177/0169796X0301900102

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