Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112536

Tonya R. Thurman, MPH, PhD student¹, Lisanne Brown, MPH, PhD², Leslie Snder, MPH, MD², Joseph Ntagania, MPH, MD³, and Edward Kalisa⁴. (1) Tulane School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St, Office # 2253, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-6517, tthurma@tulane.edu, (2) Department of International Health and Development, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, (3) Rwanda School of Public Health, University of Rwanda Campus, Butare, Rwanda, (4) World Vision Rwanda, Kigali-urban WVR office, Kigali, Rwanda

Purpose: In coping with the large number of orphans in sub-Saharan Africa, professionals emphasize the importance of community support; however, community support is often referred to broadly and some barriers to realizing this care approach are overlooked. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study attempts to operationalize, measure and explore the determinants of community support available to vulnerable youth in Rwanda.

Methods: Quantitative data comes from 692 Rwandan youth age 13-24 living without an adult, most of whom are orphaned and many of whom care for younger siblings. Community support is measured statistically by scales designed to assess marginalization and available adult support. Analyses explored associations between specific orphan characteristics and the level of support they receive. Data from focus groups with youth and community adults informs the survey data.

Results: There are a number of factors, at both the community and individual level, which influence the level of community support available to orphans. Important community factors include: cohesion, psychosocial aftereffects of the war, poverty, the demographic structure of society, and the response of non-governmental organizations. Characteristics of orphans themselves, such as socio-demographic factors and their own emotional and behavioral problems, are further influential in determining the level of support they receive.

Conclusion: The development of community-based programs should be guided by information on the level and type of support currently available to orphans. To mobilize community support, programmers need to address the extenuating circumstances which may limit its availability.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, attendees will have learned methods for measuring community support available to orphans and other vulnerable children and be aware of specific determinants of community support.

Keywords: Community-Based Care, Vulnerable Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.