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Orphan care in Botswana's working households: Growing responsibilities in the absence of adequate support

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  • Miller, C.M.
  • Gruskin, S.
  • Subramanian, S.V.
  • Rajaraman, D.
  • Heymann, S.J.

Abstract

Objectives. Botswana has one of the world's highest HIV-prevalence rates and the world's highest percentages of orphaned children among its population. We assessed the ability of income-earning households in Botswana to adequately care for orphans. Methods. We used data from the Botswana Family Health Needs Study (2002), a sample of 1033 working adults with caregiving responsibilities who used public services, to assess whether households with orphan-care responsibilities encountered financial and other difficulties. Thirty-seven percent of respondents provided orphan care, usually to extended family members. We applied logistic regression models to determine the factors associated with experiencing problems related to orphan caregiving. Results. Nearly half of working households with orphan-care responsibilities reported experiencing financial and other difficulties because of orphan care. Issues of concern included caring for multiple orphans, caring for sick adults and orphans simultaneously, receiving no assistance, and low income. Conclusions. The orphan crisis is impoverishing even working households, where caregivers lack sufficient resources to provide basic needs. Neither the public sector nor communities provide adequate safety nets. International assistance is critical to build capacity within the social welfare infrastructure and to fund community-level activities that support households. Lessons from Botswana's orphan crisis can provide valuable insights to policymakers throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Miller, C.M. & Gruskin, S. & Subramanian, S.V. & Rajaraman, D. & Heymann, S.J., 2006. "Orphan care in Botswana's working households: Growing responsibilities in the absence of adequate support," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(8), pages 1429-1435.
  • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2005.072280_6
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.072280
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    Cited by:

    1. Gladys Muasya, 2016. "Work–Family Balance Choices of Women Working in Kenyan Universities," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(1), pages 21582440166, March.
    2. Kidman, Rachel & Hanley, James A. & Subramanian, S.V. & Foster, Geoff & Heymann, Jody, 2010. "AIDS in the family and community: The impact on child health in Malawi," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(5), pages 966-974, September.
    3. Salmen, Charles R. & Hickey, Matthew D. & Fiorella, Kathryn J. & Omollo, Dan & Ouma, Gor & Zoughbie, Daniel & Salmen, Marcus R. & Magerenge, Richard & Tessler, Robert & Campbell, Harold & Geng, Elvin , 2015. "“Wan Kanyakla” (We are together): Community transformations in Kenya following a social network intervention for HIV care," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 332-340.
    4. Tesliuc, Cornelia & Silverio Marques, Jose & Mookodi, Lillian & Braithwaite, Jeanine & Sharma, Siddarth & Ntseane, Dolly, 2013. "Botswana social protection," Social Protection Discussion Papers and Notes 89003, The World Bank.
    5. Titeca, Kristof & Omwa, Samuel Samson, 2011. "Community-based initiatives in response to the OVC crisis in North Central Uganda," IOB Discussion Papers 2011.04, Universiteit Antwerpen, Institute of Development Policy (IOB).
    6. Ludmila Siarda Trochtová & Jiří Pospíšil & Helena Pospíšilová, 2021. "Social Risks as the Source of Threats and Concerns: The Survey in the Czech Republic," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-17, November.

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