ORPHANS IN AFRICA
Abstract
We examine the impact of orphanage on the living arrangements and school enrollment of children in Sub-Saharan Africa, using data from 19 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 10 countries between 1992 and 2000. We find that orphans in Africa on average live in poorer households than non-orphans, and are significantly less likely than non-orphans to be enrolled in school. However, orphans' lower school enrollment is not explained by their poverty: orphans are equally less likely to be enrolled in school relative both to non-orphans as a group and to the non-orphans with whom they live. Consistent with the predictions of Hamilton's Rule, we find that outcomes for orphans depend largely on the degree of relatedness of the orphan to the household head. Children living in households headed by non-parental relatives fare systematically worse than those living with parental heads, and those living in households headed by nonrelatives fare worse still. Much of the gap between the schooling of orphans and non-orphans is explained by the greater tendency of orphans to live with more distant relatives or unrelated caregivers.
Categories: Education Care
Other articles
An In-Depth Study of Psychosocial Distress Among Orphan and Vulnerable Children Living in Institutional Care in New Delhi, India and Their Coping Mechanisms
India is home to the largest population of orphan children (31 million) in the South Asia. These children are at increased…
Read moreChild prosociality within HIV-affected contexts: the impact of carer ill-health and orphan status
Considerable attention has been provided to the potential adverse outcomes for youth in the context of HIV and AIDS. Using…
Read moreThe extent of community and public support available to families caring for orphans in Malawi
There are an estimated 15 million AIDS orphans worldwide. Families play an important role in safeguarding orphans, but they…
Read moreThe implications of neoliberalism for the care of orphans in Zimbabwe: Challenges and opportunities for social work practice
The paper explores the implications of neoliberal social policies for the care of orphans in Zimbabwe and looks at the challenges…
Read more