Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Below, are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Please contact our volunteer webmaster for questions not yet answered. This FAQs section is still in its infancy and thus would be assisted by your questions, answers and ideas. God bless you. Who is an orphan?
UNAIDS defines an orphan as a child under the age of 18 who has lost at least one parent. UNICEF puts the age at 15 and below. Bethel Orphanage has adopted the 15 and below age criteria. A child whose mother has died is known as a maternal orphan; a child whose father has died is a paternal orphan. A child who has lost both parents is a double orphan. What are the major causes of the growth of orphans?
Major causes include poverty, disease, war, famine, and HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS has been by far the leading cause in the past decade. What are the most common terms used in the charity/non-profit world dealing with AIDS and orphans?
AIDS deaths: Estimated number of adults and children who died of AIDS. Adult prevalence rate (%) (15–49 years): The estimated number of adults aged 15-49 living with HIV/AIDS divided by the adult population. Children orphaned by AIDS as % of total orphans: Orphans due to AIDS as a % of all orphans. Dependency ratio: the sum of children under 18 and persons 60 years or older divided by the number aged 18-59 years. It indicates the number of people in a household who must rely on each adult for food security and other provisions. A ratio of 1.6 means that for each adult, there are 1.6 people who must be supported. Double orphans (thousands): Estimated number of children (0-14 years) whose mother and father have both died. Female-headed households with orphans: Dependency ratio for households with orphans headed by a woman. Life expectancy at birth (years): The number of years newborn children would live if subject to the mortality risks prevailing for the cross-section of population at the time of birth. Male-headed households with orphans: Dependency ratio for households with orphans headed by a man. Non-orphan households with children: Dependency ratio for households with children who are not taking care of orphans. Number of orphans due to AIDS: Estimated number of children (0-14 years) who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Orphan households: Dependency ratio for households with orphans of any type. Paternal orphans (thousands): Estimated number of children (0-14 years) whose father has died, where the survival status of the mother is unknown (alive, dead from AIDS, or dead from other causes). Percentage double orphans: Percentage of children age 10-14 who lost both natural parents who are attending school. Reduction in life expectancy due to AIDS (years): Difference in life expectancy at birth in years lost due to AIDS. Total maternal orphans (thousands): Estimated number of children (0-14 years) whose mother has died, where the survival status of the father is unknown (alive, dead from AIDS, or dead from other causes). Total number of orphans: Estimated number of children (0-14 years) who have lost one or both parents. Total orphans as % of all children: Estimated % of children (0-14 years) who have lost one or both parents. Under-5 mortality rate: Probability of dying between birth and exactly five years of age expressed per 1,000 live births.
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