The Psychosocial Problems of Orphan and Vulnerable Children, and tbe Responses of Service Providing Organizations: The Case of Arada Sub city, Addis Ababa
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Date
2008-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main pwpose of this study was to find out the psychosocial problems of OIphans and
vulnerable children (OVC) and the responses of service providers to the problems ofOve in Addis
Ababa, Arada Sub City.
Eighty eight OVe, 40 guardians from the sampled ove and 4 Service providing organizations,
who were direclly involved in the care and support of ove, were used as data sources. The ove
were selected from two organizations. Purposefitl and available sampling methods were used to
select the respondents. The instruments used for collecting the data were questionnaires and
interviews.
Results of the study showed that ove face different psychosocial problems. Socially, they were
subjected to various problems like isolation, displacement and separation, early school drop Ollt,
lack of attention, and mistreatment by guardians. Psychologically, many of them suffer from
deprivation of parental care and support, and experience a range of negative psychological and
emotional problems s lIch a shaving s cary dreams, unhappiness, being afraid of new situations,
difficulties falling asleep, fights with other children, feelings of loneliness, wony, frustrations,
anger, difficulty in making friends, feelings of hopelessness and lower selfesteem. OVC's
accessibility for education was considered as th eir main needs. ove used pray, ignorance, talking
to somebody and crying as the major coping strategies to cope with their problems. Guardians
were aware of the situation ofOve, but they had low perceptions to the psychosocial problems of
ove. The types of care and support provisions were mainly finanCial and material; food and
educational, and the responses of service providers towards the psychosocial problems of ove
were generally very limited. The main challengcs that the service providing organizations
encountered in ove care and support especially in psychosocial support were lack of clear
guideline, meager organizational strategies and program design, funding constraints, shortage of
human resources and low awareness on ove psychosocial issues at all levels.
[t is recommended that, early intervention is needed to prevent adverse effects on children's longterm
development. Strengthening the capacity of families alld commUilities is desired to care for
children. Psychological and social support systems are also needed to enhance the psychosocial
well being of ove. More over, creating awareness at all levels of the community to the
psychosocial problems ofove is a critical measure to ease the psychosocial problems ofOVe.
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Keywords
Psychosocial Problems of Orphan