Nutrition Status and Associated Morbidity Risk Factors among Orphanage and Non-Orphanage Children in Selected Public Primary Schools within Dagoretti; Nairobi; Kenya

Background: Most of the nutritional surveys that have been carried out in Kenya have concentrated on children aged five years and below who are under the care of their parent(s). The HIV/AIDS; conflict; natural disasters; endemic diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis and rising poverty has claimed the health and lives of millions of productive adults; leaving their children orphaned and vulnerable. This has led to mushrooming of orphanages to take care of these orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya.Objective: Compare the nutrition status and associated risk factors of primary school children living in orphanages and those not living in orphanages in selected public primary schools in Dagoretti Division; Nairobi.Design: Descriptive cross sectional survey.Setting: Four public primary schools in Dagoretti Division. Data were collected from school registers and directly questioning the students; parents /guardians or caretakers.Subjects: Four hundred and sixteen; four to eleven year olds randomly selected orphanage and non-orphanage children who attended the same primary school.Results: The orphanage children had a significantly higher rate of stunting and underweight (p 0.05) than the non-orphanage children. The orphanage children had also a significantly higher rate of morbidity (p0.05) than the non-orphanage children. The orphanage children were more than three times more likely to take inadequate calories compared to the non-orphanage children.Conclusions: The main factors associated with the higher rate of malnutrition among orphanage children were high morbidity rate; inadequate amounts and diversity of foods served; low rates of vaccination and basic hygiene

Sanctuary or Double-Edged Sword? Challenges Confronting Adolescents Living at Nkosi's Haven in Johannesburg; South Africa

Living in an institution associated with HIV and AIDS is likely to exacerbate difficulties experienced by teenagers who have to cope with the normal stresses of adolescence. The aim of the study was to explore the challenges that adolescents living at Nkosi's Haven encounter and whether they experience any problems when interacting with their peers and other members of the community. The study was located within a qualitative research paradigm and utilised a purposive; non-probability sample of 15 participants recruited from two Nkosi's Havens. A semi-structured interview schedule was employed as the research tool; with in-depth one-on-one interviews adopted as the method of data collection. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data collected during the interviews. The main finding that emanated from the study was that Nkosi's Haven is indeed a place of care and nurturing as adolescents are afforded the opportunity to continue with their educational needs while basic and psychosocial needs are also addressed. However; it also emerged that rejection; discrimination; social exclusion and stigmatisation associated with the setting make it difficult for resident adolescents to integrate freely with their peers at school and in the community. The conclusion drawn is that Nkosi's Haven can be regarded as a double-edged sword as it presents both positive and negative factors that impact on its resident adolescents. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for community awareness programmes; policies and practice changes regarding employment and training of staff; and visiting of parents as well as future research

Facing the challenge:role of women community based organisations in the support of AIDS widows and orphans

With the increasing effects of HIV/AIDS in the two districts of Kabarole and Bundibugyo; the need to support widows and orphans has become more evident. To promote this support GTZ in collaboration with GDS introduced an NGO office to assist AIDS afflicated households through the women's community based organisations. The NGO/CBO aims at working with women at the grassroot to ensure sustainability of their activities and also to network with other organisations involved in similar activities. The NGO Office uses participatory techniques to monitor and evaluate the groups' income generating activities. The results; to date show that 45 women's groups have submitted requests for financial and technical assistance. 12 groups composed of 134 widows and 170 orphans have received funds for income generating projects. Activities include poultry; agriculture; brick making; zero grazing; purchase and sell of agricultural produce and small scale retail trade. Most of the groups lack the knowledge in financial management. Therefore; they require close supervision which is too expensive given the way they are spread out in the two districts. Secondly; a number of the hard hit areas are not easily accessible. Thirdly; the number of the existing community self help groups may not be satisfied due to limitation of funds. Experience shows that supporting such womens' self help community initiatives seems to be way of alleviating the consequences of HIV/AIDS on communities