What Works for Women and Girls

7. Further interventions to provide support programs, including counseling, are needed forAIDS-orphaned children to combat depression, social isolation and stigma. Studies foundthat AIDS orphans reported insufficient food, depression and stigma.Gap noted, for example, in Republic of the Congo (Taylor et al., 2008); Zambia (Alvarezet al., 2008); Rwanda (Thurman et al., 2008a); South Africa (Cluver et al., 2007, Cluverand Gardner, 2007); China (He et al., 2007).8. Further interventions are needed to help female OVCs reduce risky sexual behaviors andprotect them from sexual violence. [See also Chapter 5. Prevention for Young People] Studiesfound that female orphans had higher rates of early sexual debut and were more likely tohave had coerced sex.Gap noted, for example, in South Africa (McGrath et al., 2009); Zimbabwe (Kang et al.,2008, Birdthistle et al., 2008, Nyamukapa et al., 2008); Rwanda (Boris et al., 2008);Nigeria (Olaleye et al., 2008); South Africa (Thurman et al., 2006); South Africa andSwaziland (Poulsen, 2006).9. Programs should encourage male involvement in children’s treatment and orphan care.A systematic review and several studies found that fathers are often overlooked in orphancare when the mother has died.Gap noted, for example, in a systematic review (Sherr, 2008); South Africa (Hill et al.,2008; and Zimbabwe (Nyamukapa et al., 2005).10. NGO and government interventions must take care not to create dependence on externallyfunded services and decrease the community’s sense of responsibility for OVC. An evaluationof programs providing services to orphans found that because of NGO interventions,communities believed they had no responsibilities towards caregivers and orphans.Gap noted, for example, in Kenya and Tanzania (Nyangara et al., 2009).WHAT WORKS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS367