Tu Xiaoming, Lv Yunfei, Li Xiaoming, Fang Xiaoyi, Zhao Guoxiang, Lin Xiuyun, Hong Yan, Zhang Liying, Stanton Bonita
Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA.
Vulnerable Child Youth Stud. 2009 Sep 1;4(3):199-209. doi: 10.1080/17450120902814420.
It is generally recognized that the AIDS epidemic will have a negative effect on the orphans' school education. However, few studies have been carried out to examine the school performance and school behavior of AIDS orphans and vulnerable children (children living with HIV-infected parents). Using both self-report and teacher evaluation data of 1625 children from rural central China, we examined the impact of parental HIV/AIDS on children's school performances (academic marks, educational expectation, and student leadership) and school behaviors (e.g., aggression, shy/anxious and assertive social skills). Results indicate that AIDS orphans and vulnerable children had disadvantages in school performances in comparison to their peers from the same community who did not experience AIDS-related death and illness in their family (comparison children). AIDS orphans had the lowest academic marks based on the reports of both children and teachers. Educational expectation was significantly lower among AIDS orphans and vulnerable children than comparison children from teacher's perspective. AIDS orphans were significantly more likely to demonstrate aggressive, impulsive and anxious behaviors than non-orphans. Moreover, orphans have more learning difficulties. Vulnerable children were also at a disadvantage on most measures. The data suggest that a greater attention is needed to the school performance and behavior of children affected by AIDS. The findings also indicate that AIDS relief and assistance program for children should go beyond the school attendance and make efforts to improve their school performance and education aspiration.
人们普遍认识到，艾滋病疫情将对孤儿的学校教育产生负面影响。然而，很少有研究对艾滋病孤儿和易受感染儿童（父母感染艾滋病毒的儿童）的学业成绩和在校行为进行考察。利用来自中国中部农村地区1625名儿童的自我报告和教师评价数据，我们研究了父母感染艾滋病毒/艾滋病对儿童学业成绩（学业成绩、教育期望和学生领导力）和在校行为（如攻击性、害羞/焦虑和自信社交技能）的影响。结果表明，与来自同一社区、家庭中未经历与艾滋病相关的死亡和疾病的同龄人（对照儿童）相比，艾滋病孤儿和易受感染儿童在学业成绩方面存在劣势。根据儿童和教师的报告，艾滋病孤儿的学业成绩最低。从教师的角度来看，艾滋病孤儿和易受感染儿童的教育期望明显低于对照儿童。与非孤儿相比，艾滋病孤儿表现出攻击性、冲动性和焦虑行为的可能性明显更高。此外，孤儿有更多的学习困难。在大多数指标上，易受感染儿童也处于劣势。数据表明，需要更加关注受艾滋病影响儿童的学业成绩和行为。研究结果还表明，针对儿童的艾滋病救助和援助项目应超越入学率，努力提高他们的学业成绩和教育期望。
