Orphan Status, HIV Risk Behavior, and Mental Health Among Adolescents in Rural Kenya

Abstract


Objective To examine orphan status, mental health, social support, and HIV risk among adolescents in rural Kenya. Methods Randomly selected adolescents aged 10–18 years completed surveys assessing sexual activity, sex-related beliefs and self-efficacy, mental health, social support, caregiver–child communication, time since parental death, and economic resources. Analysis of covariance and regression analyses compared orphans and nonorphans; orphan status was tested as a moderator between well-being and HIV risk. Results Orphans reported poorer mental health, less social support, and fewer material resources. They did not differ from nonorphans on HIV risk indicators. Longer time since parental death was associated with poorer outcomes. In moderator analyses, emotional problems and poorer caregiver–youth communication were more strongly associated with lower sex-related self-efficacy for orphans. Conclusions Orphans are at higher risk for psychosocial problems. These problems may affect orphans’ self-efficacy for safer sex practices more than nonorphans. Decreased HIV risk could be one benefit of psychosocial interventions for orphans.



Other articles

INFLUENCE OF STIGMATIZATION ON PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING OF HIV/AIDS ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Stigmatization puts HIV/AIDS Orphans and Vulnerable Children at risk physically emotionally, socially and economically HIV/AIDS…

Read more

A 2-year follow-up of orphans’ competence, socioemotional problems and post-traumatic stress symptoms in traditional foster care and orphanages in Iraqi Kurdistan

Background This paper aims to compare orphans’ development in two different care systems. Methods Based on age, sex, psychological…

Read more

Cash Transfers Improve the Mental Health and Well-being of Youth: Evidence from the Kenyan CashTransfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Approximately half of all mental health disorders begin by age 14, and three-quarters by age 24 (Kessler et al., 2005).…

Read more

Psychosocial and Developmental Status of Orphanage Children: Epidemiological Study

Objective: Determination of emotional and developmental disorders among orphanages children in Sharkia governorate. Subjects…

Read more