The care of orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya
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Date
2003-09Author
Owiti, Elizabeth A
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Currently in Kenya, an estimated 2.2million people are infected with HIV. These
infections are concentrated in the 15-49 years old age group. The vast majority of these
persons are parents and so, AIDS has been responsible for orphaning millions of children
in the Kenya. In Kenya, approximately 1.1 million children have lost either mother or both
parents due to HIV/AIDS. The number of orphans continues to grow.
The traditional means of caring for orphans have had to adapt, in addition, other responses
have emerged and continue to evolve to avoid rapid increase in child headed households
and street children. Some of the OVC care models in Kenya include: independent orphan
households, informal foster care, community based support structures, institutional based
and home-based care and support models. This study analyzes cost effectiveness of the last
four models of OVC care. The study finds that Grace- Outreach provides services that are above the minimum
standard, and the best quality of services to OVC. However, it employs the most expensive
structure and resources. Informal foster care provides services that generally meet the
minimum standard of care and can be classified as good quality care. However, the CEA
ratio shows that the informal foster care model is less cost effective. Sony HBC provides
services that are generally below the minimum standards of care. LRCDP provides care
that is also below the minimum standard. Though it claims to provide holistic care, no
orphan receives that holistic package. The study concludes with policy recommendations
based on these findings.
Sponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Department of Economics, University of Nairobi
Subject
Orphans & vulnerable children (OVCs)HIV/AIDS
Foster care
Community based support structures