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Intellectual, social and nutritional status of children in an Ethiopian orphanage

Author

Listed:
  • Aboud, Frances
  • Samuel, Mesfin
  • Hadera, Alem
  • Addus, Abdulaziz

Abstract

Children at the Jimma community orphanage between the ages of 5 and 14 years were given a battery of tests to assess their intellectual, social, and nutritional well-being relative to a group of family-reared controls. On two tests of intellectual ability, the Ravens Progressive Matrices and the Conservation test, the orphanage children performed as well as the family children. Children who entered the orphanage at an early age scored higher than those who entered later. On social-emotional measures of self-esteem, the orphanage children scored higher than or similar to the controls. However, in terms of their relationships with adults, the orphanage children reported fewer interactions and weaker attachments to adults. This was largely determined by the higher child: adult ratio in the orphanage than in family homes. Also, the orphanage children were more likely to be stunted but not more likely to be wasted than the family children. The former was attributed to the malnutrition experienced by children before they entered the orphanage, which in many cases was during the 1984 famine. Stunting was associated with lower Ravens scores. The generally favourable status of the orphanage children can largely be attributed to the noninstitutional orphanage rather than to their preorphanage family life. This raises disturbing questions about family life under conditions of economic stress.

Suggested Citation

  • Aboud, Frances & Samuel, Mesfin & Hadera, Alem & Addus, Abdulaziz, 1991. "Intellectual, social and nutritional status of children in an Ethiopian orphanage," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 1275-1280, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:33:y:1991:i:11:p:1275-1280
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. James, Spencer L. & Roby, Jini L. & Powell, Lindsay J. & Teuscher, Bryan A. & Hamstead, Kelsey L. & Shafer, Kevin, 2017. "Does family reunification from residential care facilities serve children's best interest? A propensity-score matching approach in Ghana," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 232-241.
    2. Kathryn Whetten & Jan Ostermann & Brian W Pence & Rachel A Whetten & Lynne C Messer & Sumedha Ariely & Karen O'Donnell & Augustine I Wasonga & Vanroth Vann & Dafrosa Itemba & Misganaw Eticha & Ira Mad, 2014. "Three-Year Change in the Wellbeing of Orphaned and Separated Children in Institutional and Family-Based Care Settings in Five Low- and Middle-Income Countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(8), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Garcia-Molsosa, Marta & Collet-Sabé, Jordi & Montserrat, Carme, 2021. "What are the factors influencing the school functioning of children in residential care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    4. Hy V Huynh & Susan P Limber & Christine L Gray & Martie P Thompson & Augustine I Wasonga & Vanroth Vann & Dafrosa Itemba & Misganaw Eticha & Ira Madan & Kathryn Whetten, 2019. "Factors affecting the psychosocial well-being of orphan and separated children in five low- and middle-income countries: Which is more important, quality of care or care setting?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, June.
    5. Salifu Yendork, J. & Somhlaba, Nceba Z., 2014. "Stress, coping and quality of life: An exploratory study of the psychological well-being of Ghanaian orphans placed in orphanages," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 28-37.

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