AIDS orphans (from UNAIDS.org, and HRW.org)

 

An AIDS orphan is defined as a youth under the age of 18 who has lost one or more parents to HIV/AIDS. 

 

As of the 2003, the worldwide number of AIDS Orphans was estimated to be 15 million.

 

Sub-Saharan Africa alone is home to 12.3 million of these AIDS orphans.

AIDS Orphans are more likely to drop out of school due to financial difficulties. In some countries like Kenya, up to 50% of orphans are not in school.

 

In Zambia, for example, where 17% of the country’s population is HIV positive, 7% of all homes are orphan headed and 44% of all homes have taken in orphans in response to the crisis.