Running head: ORPHAN CRISIS
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The Orphan Crisis in sub-Saharan Africa
Olivia Lewis
Western Washington University
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ABSTRACT
The following research proposal looks at the orphan crisis taking place in sub-Saharan
Africa countries from a perspective that has not been shown before: the family
themselves. With the number of orphans reaching an unimaginable number, a solution is
needed now more than ever. This proposal will use a formative program evaluation
approach, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data through surveys and interviews
with those directly related to or in contact with orphans in sub-Saharan Africa countries.
The hope for this proposal is to identify the problem, evaluate possible solutions, and stir
people to take action. With the data being collected from those affected most, the results
will be as real as possible. I will analyze the data by creating graphs and comparing the
results potentially leading to these countries reevaluating the laws regarding the care of
orphans.
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When someone thinks of Africa a few different adjectives might come to mind dirty, poverty, hungry, or struggling to name a few. Images of skin and bone children
might come up, along with visions of shacks lined up in a garbage dump, or long dusty
roads. You might think sub-Saharan Africa countries are incompatible or hopeless. When
it comes to the stability of sub-Saharan Africa countries, our society seems to identify the
problem, categorizes the issues, blame the guilty parties and then not do much to solve
the problem. We tend to have no problem exposing faults, but lack the ability to support
strengths.
Despite its lack of media coverage, one of the most significant problems in subSaharan Africa countries is the orphan epidemic. With the number of orphans passing 18
million in 2010 (Hodgins, 2010) and expected to reach 18.4 million by 2012 (Roby &
Shaw, 2006) it seems almost impossible to categorize. The key concept of my research
proposal is to compare and analyze the approaches that sub-Saharan Africa countries are
taking to help decrease the rising numbers of parentless children and how international
support is helping and hurting the Africa countries as a whole. Each country has a
different strategy, some better than others. My research proposal will address many
questions; for example, why do some countries believe that the extended families taking
care of the orphans is the only option while other countries turn towards international
adoption in hopes of lowing the numbers of children being without a family? Which
approach is most effective? Why are some countries so firm on their policies while others
seem to flip flop on a regular basis? Is there a solution? If so, what is it? How are
international governments helping the cause? How are they hurting it? Can other
countries bring more stable numbers to this crisis? As the number of orphans is predicted
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to increase rapidly over the next few years, finding a solution is crucial. This research
proposal will hopefully bring light to a daunting topic that seems to often be overlooked.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The increasing number of orphans in sub-Saharan Africa is daunting to think
about. With the number of orphans passing 18 million in 2010 (Hodgins, 2010) and
expected to reach 18.4 million by 2012 (Roby & Shaw, 2006) the scale of this crisis is
difficult to fully comprehend. The loss of parents has immeasurable consequences:
orphans are more likely to face malnutrition, mental illness, educational disadvantages,
child labor, and suffer from social exclusion (Kidman, Heymann, & Petrow, 2007). The
largest thief of life in sub-Saharan Africa and the main reason why the orphan crisis is
rising is because of the AIDS epidemic. “In Africa, AIDS has meant that childhood is lost
for many children, who have prematurely taken on the adult role of caregivers and
guardians” (Baggaley & Needham, 1997, p 34). In Zambia alone, AIDS has left 500,000
children without a family (Baggaley & Needman, 1997).
Many different approaches have been taken in the last few decades to deal with
the growing orphan crisis. One research article discussed how some sub-Saharan
countries turn to extended families in hopes of taking care of orphans (Wilson Quarterly,
2009). “The placing of orphaned children with extended families, in a situation similar to
foster care, is a sensible solution, because it supports tradition and the healthy
development of the child” (Hodgins, 2010, p 44). Throughout sub-Saharan Africa,
extended families are caring for more than 90 percent of children (Roby & Shaw, 2006).
In countries were the average worker makes $25 per month to feed, house, and support an
entire family struggle is inevitable, especially when the extended families continue to
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grow due to disease (Baggaley & Needman, 1997). The Canadian Medical Association
Journal’s research article discussed that with extended families taking in orphaned
children, resentment is a common theme from both the child and the family. These
children have not only lost their parents but they also have to deal with the transition into
a new life, which sometimes includes “over and subtle physical abuse and neglect”
(Baggaley & Needman, 1997) from the extended family. Many people ask themselves
what is the best solution for the children (Wilson Quarterly, 2009)?
According to Roby and Shaw (2006), “Although strengthening the family remains
the primary goal, community efforts have coalesced to provide support for orphans”. In
some situations having orphans be cared for by extended families is not an option
(Wilson Quarterly, 2009). Another solution countries utilize is centers or orphanages to
take care of the increasing number of abandoned children. “Bana ba Keletso Orphan Day
Care Centre provides centralized care for over 355 orphans aged 2-18 in the urban
villages of Molepolole, Botswana” (Heymann, Kidman, & Petrow, 2007, p 73). A similar
community based organization in Cape Town, South Africa has two different outreach
programs for the increasing number of orphans in their area (Heymann, Kidman, &
Petrow, 2007). This organization utilizes both indirect and direct service in helping the
orphans in and around Cape Town. Many organizations in South Africa have modeled
their approach after Ikamva Labantu; this has positively influenced the crisis in South
Africa (Heymann, Kidman, & Petrow, 2007).
The research article by Miriah Hodgins (2010) states that although international
adoption is slowly becoming a dominant solution, it is still not as common as one might
think. “The number of children adopted in 2006 from the leading source country,
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Ethiopia, reached only 732” (Wilson Quarterly, 2009, p 2). A country’s openness to
adoption is not determined by the severity of the orphan crisis, the prevalence of AIDS,
or the level of democracy in the orphans’ land, as it should be (Wilson Quarterly, 2009).
Instead the decision is more likely to be based on domestic politics (Wilson Quarterly,
2009). The proposal of international adoption is not vastly popular in sub-Saharan Africa
countries because of racism, racial and cultural identity developing, and the potential
legal risks (Roby & Shaw, 2006). Even countries that do allow or even advocate for
international adoption often have seemingly impossible requirements for adopting
families (Hodgins, 2010). Some countries in sub-Saharan Africa use their strict
international adoption policies as a way to manipulate America. “Clamping down on
adoption seems to many leaders like a relatively cheap way to stand up to Uncle Sam”
(Wilson Quarterly, 2009). Miriah Hodgins research goes into detail about the
requirements that need to be met in order to adopt from specific sub-Saharan Africa
countries. For example, “orphans are less likely to go to homes with lots of children”
(2010); even if that particular family had the means to support to the child.
In light of the tradition of keeping the orphans in the family and the strict
requirements for adoption, there are emerging signs that the international community is
mobilizing (Wilson Quarterly, 2009). “As a significant step, in 2001 the UN General
Assembly Special Session made specific commitments to address the orphan crisis”
(Roby & Shaw, 2006, p 78). Even as the international platforms are beginning to take
action at the family, community, national, and international levels much more action is
needed to create real change (Roby & Shaw, 2006).
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METHODS
My research proposal will strive to answer these questions: How do sub-Saharan
Africa countries manage the ever-growing orphan epidemic? Do they utilize the extended
families? Do they send the orphans to care centers? Do they focus their efforts on
international adoption? What is the best approach and why? For the purpose of this study
the term orphan will be defined as any child living without both biological parents and
the term sub-Saharan Africa refers to the countries south of the Sahara desert.
Research Design
The research approach I will be using is formative program evaluation to examine
the planning, development, and implementation of the orphan programs in sub-Saharan
Africa countries. My research proposal is just the beginning of the work needing to be
done to help the orphan crisis; because of this, formative program evaluation is the best
option. As Marlow (2011) says, “This type of evaluation is often performed as an initial
evaluative step and is generally descriptive” (p 41). Marlow also talks about how the
formative program evaluation is useful for someone who is processing multiple
perspectives, which is ideal for my population of diverse people.
Participants & Instrument
My proposal will answer the questions listed at the beginning of this section by
evaluating the current systems being used and opinions about those systems through the
instrument of surveys. The participants taking the survey will be gathered through
stratified random sampling. I have chosen this probability sampling method because it is
a combination of the simple and systematic methods. The participants of my proposed
research will be anyone involved in caring for orphans (extended family, care givers, etc).
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Data Collection
I will be collecting both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative because the
“primary interest is in description rather than explanation” (Marlow, 2011, p 11). I know
that I will not be able to find well thought out explanations as to why some countries use
a particular approach, but finding descriptions will be much easier. I will be collecting
quantitative data by studying a large number of subjects around a central concern
(Marlow, 2011). I will use this method because of deductive reasoning - which involves
“drawing conclusions from the general to the particular” (Marlow, 2011, p 10). The
population I will be surveying is going to have general opinions, by using deductive
reasoning I will be able to bring the general opinions to a more particular viewpoint and
find the answer to the research question.
Data Analysis
I will organize my data by creating graphs and tables with the survey results. I
will analyze my data by comparing and contrasting the graphs and tables. I will use
deductive reasoning to draw conclusions on the thoughts and feelings surrounding the
care of orphans.
FEASIBILITY
The feasibility of my research proposal has many factors including limitations and
constraints that will contribute to the success of my proposal. Most of the countries in
sub-Saharan Africa do not keep up-to-date records of children and their families thus
resulting in a lack of information. When it comes to finding the history of a child many
officials come up empty handed, which will cause a roadblock when trying to find
appropriate participants. The research articles I found that helped me to formulate the two
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sides of my proposal, one being orphans in the care of extended family members and the
other being orphans adopted internationally, have assumptions and biases because of the
locations they chose, villages they focused on, and viewpoint they started from. I will
need to keep this information in mind as I formulate my survey.
There are ethical considerations on both sides of the research. Some countries
have religious beliefs that do not support adoption and turn to alternative routes such as
sending orphans to care centers or neighboring villages to bring stability to the orphan
crisis. The goal of my proposed research is to find a solution for the ever-growing
number of children without a family and although most research does lean towards
international adoption being the most sensible solution, the ethics and traditions of a
country are important to keep in mind.
Many decisions regarding the care of orphans are made based on social, political,
and economic implications. Some countries utilize extended families because of social
expectations and traditions, while other countries want children to stay in their home
country because of political popularity. For example, some leaders create a platform built
on ‘keeping families together’ and create a fan base around that idea (Hodgins, 2010).
Although this platform in theory is admirable, it is not always easily executed because of
many different circumstances. A few countries utilize international adoption because of
the economic gain that comes from adoption fees. All of these viewpoints play a
significant role in the outcome of my research proposal because bias and assumptions
will occur when participants are completely the surveys or interviews.
Many sub-Saharan Africa countries have the potential to benefit from my
proposed research. By reviewing my results they can analyze the approach they are
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currently taking and assess the successes and failures. My research proposal will provide
these countries with a viewpoint that is not currently available. The voice of the orphan
and their families is often silenced in the media, but with my survey and interviews they
will be heard. This proposal is based on the hope that the individual viewpoint will be
seen in a light that has not been shown yet.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Baggaley, R. C., & Needham, D. (1997). Africa’s emerging AIDS-orphans crisis. CMAJ:
Canadian Medical Association Journal. 156(6), 873.
Breuning, M. & Ishiyama, J. (2009). Africa’s Orphans. Wilson Quarterly. 33(3), 86-87.
Hodgins, M. (2010). Should we keep it in the family?: Caretaker preference for orphan
care in Yako, Burkina Faso. 7(1), 43-51.
Kidman, R. R., Petrow, S. E., & Heymann, S. J. (2007). Africa’s orphan crisis: two
community-based models of care. AIDS Care. 19(3), 326-329.
Doi:10.1080/09540120600608396
Roby, J. L., & Shaw, S. A. (2006). The African orphan crisis and international adoption.
Social Work, 51(3), 199-210.
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Appendices:
THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF HOW ORPHANS ARE CARED FOR
CONSENT FORM
Principal Investigator:
Olivia Lewis
Human Services Student
Western Washington University
DESCRIPTION:
I am interested in the thoughts and feelings of people related to or familiar with the care
of orphans in sub-Saharan Africa countries. You, as someone taking care of, working
with, or being around orphans, are the best possible resource to describe these thoughts
and feelings. This research study will include one survey (10 questions) and possibly one
interview lasting approximately 20 minutes.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Your name and information will not be attached to your survey or interview. Your name
and any other identifiers will be kept in a secure file and will only be accessible to me
and my research associates. If any information is published from this study, your name
will not be.
BENEFITS:
Your thoughts and feelings of the care of orphans have the potential to change the way
sub-Saharan Africa countries take care of them.
RISKS:
There is potential that answering the questions might trigger emotions that make you sad
or uncomfortable. However, there is no other known risk to you.
CONTACT PEOPLE:
If you have any questions or concerns about participating in this research please feel free
to contact the principal investigator listed above. Our first concern is your safety and
comfort.
VOLUNTARY NATURE OF PARTICIPATION:
Your participation in this study is voluntary. If you decide not to participate, or wish to
stop participation at any time there will be no penalty or less of benefit to you. In other
words, you are free to make your own choice about involvement in this research.
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SIGNATURE:
Your signature on this consent form indicate that you understand the above study, what is
being asked of you, and that your involvement is voluntary. Thank you! We look forward
to working with you.
Signature: ______________________________________________
Date: _________________________
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THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF HOW ORPHANS ARE CARED FOR SURVEY
As the consent form explained your participation is voluntarily and can be terminated at
any time. Please do not hesitate to ask questions or seek clarification.
Directions: Complete this 10-question survey to the best of your ability by circling the
answer you prefer.
1. How familiar are with the concept of international adoption? (Circle the best
answer)
A. Very familiar
B. Somewhat familiar
C. Not very familiar
D. Have not heard about it
If you answered A or B to #1
2. Do you believe that international adoption is a positive solution to the orphan
crisis?
A. Yes
B. No
If you answered C or D to #1
3. Are you interested in learning more about the concept of international adoption?
A. Yes
B. No
4. Do you believe extended family members should care for orphans if possible?
A. Yes
B. No
5. Has your family faced additional struggles from having the orphan(s) in your
care?
A. Yes
B. No
6. Has your family benefited in any way from having the orphan(s) in your care?
A. Yes
B. No
7. Do you think the orphan in your care would be better off in a different situation?
A. Yes
B. No
8. Do you think care centers or orphanages are an effective way to take care of the
orphans?
A. Yes
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B. No
9. Do you think the government of your country is sensitive towards the situations
the orphans are in?
A. Yes
B. No
10. Do you believe that the orphan crisis is a problem?
A. Yes
B. No
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