Protecting HIV-positive children in Jamaica: exploring policy, practice and institutional responses

HIV/AIDS is widespread in Jamaica with circa 32,000 individuals, including circa 2700 children and young people, a prevalence rate of approximately 1.7 % of the adult population (Ministry of Health National, HIV/STI programme: annual report. MoH, Jamaica. Available at http://www.nhpjamaica.org/informationCentre/publications/reports, 2011). This is a threat to development in a country of 2.7 million. Lack of education, stigma and discrimination are among the key drivers behind the spread of HIV in Jamaica. This study was convened to understand the schooling experience of children and young people living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica. At the moment, there is only a limited body of research literature on this topic in the Caribbean. The theoretical perspective used to scaffold this study was based in human rights. Documentary analysis, focus groups and in-depth interview were the main qualitative methods used in this two-phase socio-legal study. The main conclusions arrived at are that HIV-positive and AIDS children and young people are well supported by a tapestry of international, national laws and policies, and local support services that coalesce to safeguard the status and personhood of an HIV-positive young person