The Contribution of HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention Programs to the Socio Economic Empowerment of HIV/AIDS Orphaned Children and Care Givers: A Case of Namirembe Diocesan HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention Program.

ABSTRACT:
The study was conducted in Wakiso District in Namayumba and Gombe sub- counties, Namirembe Diocese
To examine the contribution of Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) in promoting socioeconomic empowerment of HIV/AIDS orphaned children and their households.
It was premised on the fact that the Diocesan OVC program has, for over 25years, been implementing activities aimed at empowering program beneficiaries’ socio-economic status but little was known about the impact of the support.
The study specific objectives were; to establish the socioeconomic status of the OVC and their households in the Diocese; to establish the contribution of the Diocesan OVC program towards the socioeconomic empowerment of the OVC and their households; and to establish the challenges facing the OVC and their households.
A cross-sectional study design employing qualitative and quantitative approaches was used. A random sample of 150 OVC households were selected for the quantitative components, while purposive sampling was used to select respondents for the qualitative component. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, observation and document review.
The findings revealed varied socioeconomic status of OVC household across the different status indicators with relatively good performance in increased school enrolment and reduced dropout rates, reduced psychosocial needs and increased child protection and access to legal services as compared to indicators like economic status, food security and nutrition and general health and hygiene conditions.
Majority of OVC household heads and OVC largely attributed their current socioeconomic improvements to programs interventions with a shared perception that the Diocesan OVC program highly contributed to their socioeconomic empowerment; but the OVC and their households still faced a number of challenges manifesting as limiting factors as well as general problems and needs that characterize vulnerability.
It was recommended that in order to enhance the socioeconomic status of the OVC; involvement of the beneficiaries in the design of the program activities to improve understanding of OVC needs; designing appropriate interventions with far reaching impact; involvement of all stakeholders and the community in the identification of beneficiary households as well as constant monitoring and supervision of program beneficiaries.