Tweet

Tags

ethics, hiv awareness, the star

Related media coverage

• Madam & Eve mentions HIV
• Be part of 1.5km ribbon for Aids Day
• Youth sex survey bares all
• IN THE NEWS: Crime is not having HIV but giving it to someone else
• Neonatal circumcision: Are you in or out?

“Children infected or affected by HIV and AIDS are set aside on adoption registries in South Africa”

Fostering the youth

Adopting a child that is not mentally and physically healthy is not always a priority for parents. The number of children in state care who are infected or affected by HIV are a testament to this.

As reported on by The Star, a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) review has showed that South Africans prefer fostering as opposed to adoption. The review cites the monthly subsidy that foster parents receive as an adoption deterrent because many foster parents view the subsidies as a source of income.

Reluctancy to adopt could be curtailed by government issuing some form of incentive for foster parents to take the step and adopt, and by stressing the point that with the quality of ART available, lifespan is improved for HIV infected children. Which in turn make the issue of adoption of a child infected with HIV a non issue.