Impact of AIDS on rural livelihoods in Benue State, Nigeria : implications for policymakers
Document type: report
Download file(s):
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Abstract:
Nigeria is in the grip of a growing HIV/AIDS epidemic with Benue State recording one of the highest State level infection rates: 13.5% in 2001, which will have a devastating impact on individual lives and livelihoods. This study investigated the impacts of HIV/AIDS on rural livelihoods in Benue. Twelve study sites were selected to represent the variety of livelihoods in Benue State and the main ethnic groups. In each site, a qualitative research was carried out. Subsequently 508 households were selected at random for a household survey. Data collected on demographic change in Benue state as well as proxy indicators for the spread of AIDS all indicate the same trend: more deaths and more orphans since the beginning of the 1990s. An analysis of the time trends for the year in which children became orphans also shows an increase from 5 reported orphan events in 1997 to 60 reported orphan events in 2002 amongst the 508 study households. Because the increase in orphan rates lags behind HIV infection levels by about 10 years, it is expected that Benue State will face a major increase in the number of orphans in the near future. Three different levels for mitigation impact can be identified: (1) Reduce the immediate effects of illness and death; (2) Reduce impact on livelihoods; and (3) Provide social protection for the most vulnerable groups.
Authors:
Hilhorst, T.
,
Liere, M. van
,
Koning, K. de
,
Abeda, F.
,
Jolayemi, T.
,
Saror, S.
Country:
Nigeria
Category:
Policy
Keywords:
poverty
,
HIV and AIDS
,
policy
,
demography
Language:
eng
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
PAGE:
113
Place:
Amsterdam
Publisher:
Royal Tropical Institute (KIT)
Year:
2004
Region:
Africa
,
Africa South of Sahara
,
West Africa
Right:
© 2004 KIT
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Title:
Impact of AIDS on rural livelihoods in Benue State, Nigeria : implications for policymakers