title: AIDS causes sharp rise in number of Brazilian orphans.
abstract: An estimated 183,000 Brazilian children are at risk of losing their mothers to AIDS, according to a survey released.  The survey, sponsored by UNICEF, was conducted by the John Snow Institute.  Survey estimates are that 10,600 Brazilian children younger than 14 years have already lost their mothers to AIDS, 34,600 have mothers with AIDS, and 137,800 have mothers infected with HIV.  Of these 183,000 children, 8% are infected with HIV.  "It's like saying 183,000 children have boarded an airplane without pilot, co-pilot, or flight attendants, flying without direction, lost in the air," said Miguel Fontes.  "We want these children to disembark again as citizens and members of the workforce."  Further estimates were that the number of children orphaned by AIDS could more than double by the year 2000 and that support for each orphan could cost Brazil up to $16,000 annually.  Preventive measures would only cost between $400 and $1000 annually per child, Fontes added.  Preventive measures should include better access to HIV testing and treatment, he said, and programs directed at low-income families, custody plans for orphans and legal measures to support families affected by AIDS.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000569:Americas; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D003906:Developing Countries; D004194:Disease; D004467:Economics; D005581:Foster Home Care; D015658:HIV Infections; D007843:Latin America; D009026:Mortality; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012946:Social Welfare; D013020:South America; D014777:Virus Diseases
keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Age Factors; Americas; Brazil; Child; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Diseases; Economic Factors; Hiv Infections; Latin America; Mortality--women; Orphans; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Social Welfare; South America; Viral Diseases; Youth