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Studies show new HIV/AIDS effects in SA
Embassy of the United States of America, May 22, 2002.
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HIV/AIDS is severely affecting South African households, small and medium enterprises and the housing sector, according to new research commissioned by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Australian Agency for International Aid.
The two development bodies supported seven studies selected with government to help government find out about rising economic problems caused by HIV/AIDS and how to respond.
Surveys revealed that households affected by HIV/AIDS allocate a relatively larger amount of resources to food than unaffected households. Affected households spend more on medical, transportation, and funeral costs, so they have less money to spend on education and personal items than unaffected households do. Moreover, affected households borrow more money than unaffected households do. A family death often results in children, especially girls, being forced to interrupt their schooling to raise siblings.
HIV/AIDS is affecting small farms and households dramatically, because overall productivity decreases as workers die or become infected with opportunistic infections. Where it is impossible for an older child to care for their family, orphaned family members tend to live in homes headed by females or divorced persons. These studies collectively suggest that government needs to look at innovative policy options such as micro-credit schemes, poverty eradication projects, and a more visible role in orphan care.
High growth, small/medium enterprises are similarly affected by HIV/AIDS throughout South Africa and the research data shows that many firms are not doing enough to build awareness of the effects of the pandemic. While business owners and managers have begun to see the affects of HIV/AIDS on their work populations, they have not begun to monitor the financial impact of the virus. Many firms lack sufficient awareness and prevention activities; most firms that have these programs tend to only offer them informally. The majority of firms are concerned with the effects of HIV/AIDS and are interested in having more focused campaigns and visits by AIDS awareness practitioners.
Two studies reviewed current government policy regarding housing subsidies and the delivery of housing. Preliminary findings suggest that many people lack sufficient knowledge of housing subsidies or the process to obtain them. The current housing subsidy scheme is built to support the nuclear family; it doesn't consider extended families or orphaned families.
According to current HIV/AIDS trends, nuclear families will continue to decrease as extended families and orphan families increase. Future housing policy needs to account for this trend.
Research shows that most construction firms have not analyzed the affects of HIV/AIDS on the demand for housing and the building of homes; this is related to the informal nature of the construction sector. Of the firms that had done analysis, it was found that most believed HIV/AIDS related mortality is the only negative impact of the virus; the costs of HIV/AIDS morbidity were generally not considered. |
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