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Caregiver perceptions of children in their care and motivations for the care work in children's homes in Ghana: Children of God or children of white men?

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  • Darkwah, Ernest
  • Daniel, Marguerite
  • Asumeng, Maxwell

Abstract

The perceptions and motivations that workers have in their work and work environment are important determinants of the quality of work they do. For people who work in residential institutions where children who have lost the care of their parents receive care, these perceptions and motivations become a crucial part in determining the quality of services or care the children are given. This study set out to explore the perceptions and motivations of caregivers in the institutional context in Ghana. Adopting a qualitative, phenomenological approach, data were collected from 35 caregivers in two children's homes in Ghana through participant observations, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. It emerged that caregivers perceived the children in their care first as children of God and then as children of white men and were predominantly motivated by their religious convictions to keep doing ‘the work of God’. Other motivations included personal life situations and economic aspects of the job. Implications for the workers and children in this environment are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Darkwah, Ernest & Daniel, Marguerite & Asumeng, Maxwell, 2016. "Caregiver perceptions of children in their care and motivations for the care work in children's homes in Ghana: Children of God or children of white men?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 161-169.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:66:y:2016:i:c:p:161-169
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.05.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bettmann, Joanna E. & Mortensen, Jamie M. & Akuoko, Kofi O., 2015. "Orphanage caregivers' perceptions of children's emotional needs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 71-79.
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    Cited by:

    1. Abdullah, Alhassan & Cudjoe, Ebenezer & Manful, Esmeranda, 2018. "Barriers to childcare in Children's Homes in Ghana: Caregivers' solutions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 450-456.
    2. Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah & Inge Kroidl & Michael Hoelscher & Olena Ivanova & Jonathan Mensah Dapaah, 2019. "A Phenomenological Account of HIV Disclosure Experiences of Children and Adolescents from Northern and Southern Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-19, February.
    3. Roelen, Keetie & Delap, Emily & Jones, Camilla & Karki Chettri, Helen, 2017. "Improving child wellbeing and care in Sub-Saharan Africa: The role of social protection," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 309-318.
    4. Liu, Xiaoqian & Whetten, Kathryn & Prose, Neil S. & Eagle, David & Parnell, Heather E. & Amanya, Cyrilla & Vann, Vanroth & Dubie, Misganaw Eticha & Kaza, Venkata Gopala Krishna & Tzudir, Senti & Proes, 2020. "Enjoyment and meaning in daily activities among caregivers of orphaned and separated children in four countries," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    5. Frimpong-Manso, Kwabena, 2018. "Building and utilising resilience: The challenges and coping mechanisms of care leavers in Ghana," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 52-59.
    6. Proeschold-Bell, Rae Jean & Molokwu, Nneka Jebose & Keyes, Corey L.M. & Sohail, Malik Muhammad & Eagle, David E. & Parnell, Heather E. & Kinghorn, Warren A. & Amanya, Cyrilla & Vann, Vanroth & Madan, , 2019. "Caring and thriving: An international qualitative study of caregivers of orphaned and vulnerable children and strategies to sustain positive mental health," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 143-153.

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