 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Kate Meiners, RN, MPH1, Justin Fombe2, Pat Mitchell, GN2, Geoff Mitchell2, Tih Pius Muffih, MPH, PhD3, and Martha Rogers, MD4. (1) Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 3452A North Druid Hills, Decatur, GA 30033, 404-633-2612, krmeine@sph.emory.edu, (2) Life Abundant Primary Health Care, Cameroon Baptist Convention, PO Box 9, Northwest Province, Nso, Cameroon, (3) AIDS Education and Prevention Program, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board, PO Box 9, Nso, Northwest Province, Kumbo, Cameroon, (4) Center for Child Well-being, Task Force for Child Survival, 750 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030
Purpose and Methods: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and needs of vulnerable children living in Northwest Province, Cameroon. Using a cluster sample design, caregivers in 100 households were interviewed regarding household characteristics and the educational, health and nutritional status of children. Frequency distributions and Chi-Square analyses were used to evaluate differences between orphans and non-orphans. To identify vulnerable children, an index of child well-being was created. The index included caregiver education, child educational status, and caregiver health status. Using this index, we compared orphans with non-orphans.
Results: The sample consisted of 499 children, 14% of whom were orphans. Thirty-three percent of households included orphans with an average household size of 8 persons. After controlling for age and sex, orphans had similar scores on the child well-being index as non-orphans. In addition, orphans and non-orphans were attending school at equal rates (Chi-Square 0.15 p-value 0.699), had a similar health status (Chi-Square 0.81 p-value 0.37) and similar nutritional needs (Chi-Square 0.21 p-value 0.61).
Conclusions: Orphans in Cameroon live in households with similar characteristics and have educational, nutritional and health outcomes comparable to non-orphans. While losing a parent is traumatic for a child, the social network in Cameroon appears to effectively support orphan needs. Targeting programs only towards orphans may exclude vulnerable non-orphaned children who may have risks similar to those of orphans.
Recommendations: Programs supporting the needs of children should focus on identifying and supporting the most vulnerable children and families, not simply focus on orphans.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Child Health, Needs Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.