Doctoral thesis reveals the active role of children living with HIV/AIDS in Bobo-Dioulasso

The doctoral thesis by Fabienne Hejoaka, defended at Université Montpellier 1, sheds light on the experience of children living with HIV/AIDS in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Conducted under a Franco-African joint supervision agreement, this research demonstrates that these children, often perceived as victims, are in fact active agents in managing their own health, despite the stigma surrounding them.

The experience of children living with HIV/AIDS in Burkina Faso remains largely overlooked. Fabienne Hejoaka's thesis, produced under a Franco-African joint supervision agreement, analyzes how these children manage their illness in a context of stigmatization. Drawing on twenty months of ethnographic fieldwork in Bobo-Dioulasso, this research highlights the challenges these young people face while keeping their serological status secret.

The study reveals that far from being passive victims, these children are social agents navigating a complex environment. They often keep their status secret to avoid stigma, raising questions about how to integrate their voices into public health policy. The conditions under which the diagnosis is disclosed to them are also frequently harsh, affecting their wellbeing.

The findings underscore the opportunity to integrate children into public health policy on HIV/AIDS. Policymakers must act to better support these young people by developing programs that account for their lived experience. Effective awareness campaigns can help reduce stigma and foster a supportive environment for children living with HIV/AIDS.

« "Children living with HIV/AIDS in Bobo-Dioulasso are often perceived as victims, when in fact they play an active role in managing their own health." »

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