in Blantyre, Malawi, examined methods to improve
monitoring and evaluation of interventions aimed at
orphans and vulnerable children.
Objective. A derivative of this larger study, the present
study utilized the household data collected to assess differences
in food security status among orphan households
with the aim of helping food security programmers focus
resources on the households most affected.
Methods. Orphan households were classified by
number and type of orphans supported. Descriptive
analyses and logistic regressions were performed to assess
differential vulnerability to food insecurity according to
these classifications.
Results. Multiple-orphan households and multipleorphan
households that cared for at least one foster child
were 2.42 and 6.87 times more likely to be food insecure,
respectively, than nonorphan households. No other category
of orphan household was at elevated risk.
Conclusions. The food security impact of caring for
orphans varied significantly among orphan households,
requiring food security planners to focus resources on the
households most heavily impacted by HIV/AIDS, including
multiple-orphan households, rather than focusing
on conventional designations of vulnerability, such as
orphans and vulnerable children.
Key words: Food security, HIV, Malawi, orphans