AEGiS-14IAC: Perceived needs versus "development" needs in programs on orphans and vulnerable children in AIDS affected areas in Burkina Faso.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Perceived needs versus "development" needs in programs on orphans and vulnerable children in AIDS affected areas in Burkina Faso.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. G12529)

Ouedraogo C, Reeler A, Fages V, Houlihan H, Nyameogo J, Saba J
Axios, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

ISSUES: The perceived needs of orphans & vulnerable children (OVC) may be different from what development planners call "development" needs. This needs to be addressed in program designs.

DESCRIPTION: Axios comprehensive program on OVC in rural and urban areas affected by AIDS in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso and funded by Step Forward, Abbott Laboratories Fund has 4 components: basic needs, education, health care and voluntary counseling & testing (VCT). It is implemented in close collaboration with District Authorities and local actors. Needs assessments of the rural & urban areas have been completed and implementation is ongoing. Most of the perceived needs of the urban setting were in line with standard development needs such as access to education and health care. However, the perceived needs of the rural area were very different, reflecting different social-economic characteristics and levels of awareness. Rural people are less informed, for instance about the importance of education or legal rights. Urban people want more access to modern health care while rural people prefer traditional treatment. Health care was not a perceived need in rural areas although access to modern health care is very limited. Urban area: -Access to safe water supply; -Legal assistance for OVC and widows; -Access to health care Rural area: -School feeding programs;-Construction of schools

ISSUES: People's perceived needs may be different from what development planners would expect depending on levels of awareness, socio-cultural characteristics and rural and urban environments.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Program design need to account for differences in rural and urban settings and socio-cultural characteristics and disaggregate planning process accordingly. The design of participatory OVC programs should strive to find a balance between people's perceived needs, the needs of development planners and the empowerment of people through information and education.

Keywords: AEGIS, Health Services Needs and Demand, Demography, Human Development, Needs Assessment, Area Health Education Centers, Geography, Burkina Faso, Child, Education

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