What does BAIS IV say about orphaned girls and boys in Botswana? Implications for Research

Abstract

Botswana, like many African countries, has a significant number of orphaned children whose parents died as a result of HIV and AIDS. These children face several challenges that affect their wellbeing. The challenges are educational, psycho-social and economic. Despite these challenges, some of the orphaned children are resilient and manage to thrive in the face of adversity. The purpose of this article is three-fold: based on findings of Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS IV) as well as insights from existing literature, the paper analyses factors associated with the decline in the number of households with orphaned children who received external support twelve months prior to the collection of data for BAIS IV. The article also explores factors that account for the relatively low levels of school attendance for female orphans compared to their male counterparts. It concludes by outlining implications for further research.