Key findings

• Chronic illness was prevalent: over one-third of OVC had an ill primary caregiver.
• Chronic illness likely goes beyond HIV and AIDS to include health conditions of the elderly.
• A high proportion of caregivers with a chronic illness reported poor health and unmet need for critical health services.
• Ill caregivers were twice as likely as those without chronic illness to have suffered psychosocial distress.
• Children living with an ill household member were at greater risk than other OVC for a variety of adverse outcomes.