Effects of Household Economic Strengthening. On Well Being of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Migori County, Kenya

      Аннотация: Research report on Economic Strengthening (ES) to improve households’(HH) care for vulnerable children. Scanty information exists on outcomes beyond counting of program services. Outcomes on child well-being; health, nutrition and protection are poorly understood. Knowledge gaps exists to inform stakeholders of interventions which could impact OVC well-being. Study assessed health, nutrition and protection outcomes of OVC (6-59 months) in Migori. Study design was comparative cross-sectional survey, with purposive and random sampling of 400 HH (200 intervention & 200 non-intervention). Quantitative and qualitative data was collected, then analyzed using STATA, and manual transcription. Chi-square and t-tests established that intervention HH OVC had significantly (P<0.05) better Health; {malaria (X2=32.806, P=0.00), diarrhea, (X2=30.027, P=0.000), immunized (X2=27.845, P=0.000)}, and Nutrition; {MUAC (t=-7.596, P=0.000), WAZ (t=-2.386, P=0.008), HAZ (t=-1.845, P=0.032)} and were better Protected from abuse (X2=22.809, P=0.000) and neglect (X2=1.88, P=0.170). It concluded that ES improved OVC well-being, and recommended linkages with protection safety nets, and further research on ES.

Ключевые слова: household economic strengthening, orphans children, vulnerable children, Health, nutrition and protection, nutrition, Protection