A RCT of Ways to Improve OVC HIV Prevention and Well Being (JHU)

Sponsors:

  • NIH-National Institute of Mental Health

Collaborators:

  • Johns Hopkins University

Start Date:

End Date:

  • Ongoing

A RCT of Ways to Improve OVC HIV Prevention and Well Being (JHU)

This grant will conduct a Randomized Controlled Trial to evaluate the effectiveness of two interventions. OVC will receive either 1) a "gold standard" model of PS (Psychosocial Counseling: PC) which is an expanded version of what is currently being provided in some of the best PS programming for OVC affected by HIV; or 2) TF-CBT which is an evidence-based CBT approach studied in Zambia and Tanzania. Comparative outcomes will include measures of HIV risk behaviors, emotional and behavioral health, and overall well-being and health development of OVC affected by HIV/AIDS.

High levels of stigma toward orphaned children, regardless of cause, were found, and more so if HIV was the cause of parental death. Stigma includes beliefs that orphaned and separated children (OSC) cannot be treated like biological children, that OSC should feel grateful to have any family take them in, and that it is acceptable to treat them as servants to compensate for the care they receive. Policy implications are that orphan related stigma is serious, and that reintegration programs and interventions failing to target broader social stigma, or only HIV stigma, may be ineffective.

Last updated on January 10, 2018