| dc.description.abstract | The situation of Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances (CEDCs) in Kenya is an issue of major concern. Children are orphaned daily mainly due to HIV/AIDS, others are abandoned as a result of unwanted pregnancies, more are suffering neglect, while others are victims of physical and sexual abuse. These children undergo a lot of psychological and physical trauma and many of them have been forced to the streets and child labour. What most of these children lack and require is a home with loving and caring parent/so
Child adoption is one of the interventions that can provide an alternative home for CEDCs who cannot be reintegrated back to their biological families. It is in view of this that this study attempted to look at child adoption as an intervention strategy for CEDC in Kenya. The study limited itself to child adoption among Kenyans. Through purposive sampling, respondents deemed familiar with the adoption practice in Kenya were identified as the study informants. These included, Children's Officers, Social Workers and Managers of Non-Governmental Organisations that deal with child adoption. Face to face interviews were conducted with the respondents and an interview schedule mainly with open-ended questions was used.
The study had four specific objectives. The first one was to examine the relevance of the major socio-economic factors that qualify adoptive parentis for placement with an adoptive child. Some of these factors include; the age, marital status, health, fertility
status and level of income of prospective adoptive parents. Secondly, the study was set to
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establish the extent to which child adoption is socially accepted in the Kenyan society. This was reflected through the respondents' views on the general public views towards adoption, their views on whether culture influenced Kenyans attitude towards adoption
and the reasons that motivate Kenyans to adopt children. Thirdly, the study sought to establish from the respondents whether child adoption has been adequately utilized as an intervention strategy for CEDCs. Lastly, the study sought to identify constraints within child adoption practice in Kenya that may impede its effectiveness as an intervention for CEDCs.
The study findings revealed that the relevance of the socio-economic factors considered on prospective adoptive parents before placement with a child was to ensure that they are suitable to provide parental care to the adopted child. Further findings revealed that child adoption is yet to be socially accepted among Kenyans. The respondents' views revealed that most Kenyans have negative attitude towards adoption and that most of those who adopt are motivated by personal interests. Though identified as a good intervention strategy for CEDCs by the respondents, child adoption has not been utilized in Kenya. The respondent indicated that very few children are adopted by Kenyans. The situation was attributed to low awareness among Kenyans 011 child adoption. The study established that if sensitized, many Kenyans are likely to acquire positive attitude about adoption and as a result many CEDCs are likely to benefit' from the service. Child adoption gives a child an
opportunity to grow up in a family that is the best institution for every child .
The study further established that child adoption is faced with a lot of constraints. A key concern among others was that despite low awareness among Kenyans about child
adoption little was being done to sensitize them on the same. Another concern was that
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child adoption is a very expensive process especially due to the legal fee involved and
therefore unaffordable to majority of Kenyans.
Child adoption has not been given emphasis as intervention strategy lor CTDCs while many children continue to sutler due to lack of parental care. Many Kenyans are not sensitized on ch iId adoption and it III ight take someti me before they understand the great role they can play by providing a home for CEDCs. The study recommends that the government should take lead in sensitizing Kenyans about adoption. The legal lee attached to child adoption should be standardized and made affordable to Kenyans. The study has further recommended for subsidies to families' wishing to adopt children but lack enough resources to provide for their needs. Owing to the great role that child adoption can playas an intervention strategy, and considering the scarcity of information on child adoption in Kenya, the study has recommended that it may be given focus in terms of research. Different aspects of child adoption should be studied in order to further inform and improve the practice in Kenya. | en |
