AEGiS-09IAC: A survey of orphaned children in Kibera Urban Slum, Nairobi.

9th International AIDS Conference

Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

A survey of orphaned children in Kibera Urban Slum, Nairobi.

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:129 (abstract no. WS-D26-4)
Nduati RW, Muita JW, Olenja J, Muiva E, Muthani N, Manguyu F;

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, causes and outcome of orphanhood in Kibera urban slum in Nairobi.

METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 684 households. SAMPLING: Cluster sampling within the nine villages comprising the slum.

RESULTS: Mean household age 4.86 and 55% of the population is under 18 years of age. 17% of the adult population had permanent employment and 42.4% had no occupation at all. Prevalence of single orphanhood in children was 4.5% and double orphans 0.4% of the child population. 3.7% were infants and 75% were school age children aged between 6-18 years 77.1% of parental death was due to illness and 17.1% due to accidental. Verbal autopsy suggest that 24.7% of the deaths were due to AIDS related illnesses. Orphans are significantly more malnourished than other children. 58.8% of orphans are cared for by the remaining one parent. 19.8% by grandparents and 22.1% by other family members. 38.9% of the guardians or orphans did not have gainful employment. The most pressing problem was lack of financial resources.

CONCLUSION: There is significant orphaning in this urban slum. Orphaned children experience significant nutritional and financial problems. Family members are willing to care for orphaned children.

Keywords: AEGIS, Foster Home Care, Poverty Areas, Family, Prevalence, Cross-Sectional Studies, Caregivers, Child Welfare, Poverty, Child of Impaired Parents, Child Nutrition Disorders, Schools, Kenya, Child, Human, Adult, Infant, ICA9
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