•* •? AHUCAMA o>LUCTli® SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR ORPHANED CHILDREN IN NYANG’OMA SUB-LOCATION, BONDO DISTRICT, WESTERN KENYA t h e s o tt»9 (irkm ACCEPTED FOfc ►liE D E ^ n r ,9 A Pv I \M> 'HY -vCKD x a i taivuttuiry g.uuary. By Erick Otieno Nyambedha A Thesis submitted to the Institute of African Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology of the University of Nairobi 2000 DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University. & | ^| I oj o o - Erick Otieno Nyambedha Date This thesis has been submitted with my approval as the University Supervisor. 'o f. Simiyu Wandibba Date DEDICATION In loving memory of my late father, Andrew Nyambedha Omondi, who would have loved to live and see me climb the academic ladder but death cut him short before he could send me to school, And My late grandfather, Stephen Ondwasi Lutta, who always encouraged me to work hard in school but who, unfortunately, died when I was collecting data for this thesis and whom I miserably missed to give a farewell. To both of them I pray that their souls rest in peace. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of tables ............................................................................................................. ijj Acknowledgements................................................................................................... iv Abstract....................................................................................................................... v List of abbreviations................................................................................................. vii CHAPTER Is INTRODUCTION.......................................................................... 1 1.1 Background......................................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 The AIDS situation among the L uo.............................................................. 5 1.2 Problem statement.............................................................................................. 6 1.3 Study objectives................................................................................................. 7 1.3.1 General objective.............................................................................................. 7 1.3.2 Specific objectives............................................................................................. 7 1.4 Justification of the study.................................................................................... 8 1.5 Scope and limitations of the study.................................................................... 10 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................11 2.1 Literature Review.................................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 The situation of orphanhood in Kenya............................................................ 12 2.1.2 Support systems for the child, family and community.................................. 13 2.1.3 Social and cultural institutions........................................................................ 15 2.1.4 Problems faced by orphans.............................................................................. 18 2.1.5 Coping strategies............................................................................................... 20 2.1.6 Policy matters relating to orphans................................................................... 21 2.2 Theoretical framework......................................................................................... 23 2.2.1 Relevance of the theory to the study.............................................................. 24 2.3 Hypotheses...............................................................................................................28 2.4 Definitions of key term s....................................................................................... 28 i CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY............................................................................29 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 29 3.2 Research site.......................................................................................................... 29 3.2.1 Location.............................................................................................................. 29 3.2.2 Topography, climate and soils.......................................................................... 29 3.2.3 Socio-economic Activities................................................................................ 30 3.2 4 Population size and composition...................................................................... 31 3.2.5 Health situation................................................................................................. 31 3.3 Study design.......................................................................................................... 31 3.3.1 Study population and unit of analysis............................................................. 32 3.3.2 Sampling strategy and sample size................................................................... 33 3.3.3 Methods/Instruments of data collection ........................................................... 34 3.4 Problems encountered and their solutions........................................................... 37 3.5 Ethical issues......................................................................................................... 37 3.6 Data analysis......................................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER 4: THE CONCEPT OF ORPHANHOOD AND PEOPLE’S CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARDS ORPHANED CHILDREN.................39 4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 39 4.1.1 Socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the sample population .. 39 4.2 The concept of orphanhood among the L uo....................................................... 49 4.3 Changing attitudes of the people towards orphaned children............................ 51 CHAPTER 5: SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR ORPHANED CHILDREN.......... 61 5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................61 5.2 Social systems....................................................................................................... 61 5.2.1 Cultural systems ............................................................................................... 63 5.3 Coping mechanisms adopted by orphans themselves........................................ 70 5.4 Psychological aspects of orphaned children....................................................... 77 ii CHAPTER 6: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS......................................................................................... 80 6.1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 80 6.2 Discussion.............................................................................................................. 80 6.3 Conclusion............................................................................................................. 91 6.4 Recommendations................................................................................................ 93 6.5 Areas of further research...................................................................................... 94 BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................................................................... 95 APPENDICES............................................................................................................ 103 Appendix 1: Questionnaire for caretakers.................................................................. 104 Appendix 2: Interview Guide for orphans.................................................................. 107 Appendix 3: Interview Guide for caretakers............................................................. 109 Appendix 4: Focus group guide for orphans............................................................. Ill Appendix 5 Focus group guide for community leaders............................................ 112 Appendix 6 Interview guide for key informants........................................................ 113 LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1: Biographical information of caretakers interviewed in-depth............. 40 Table 4.2: Education level attained by caretakers in the survey............................. 41 Table 4.3: Summary characteristics of orphaned children studied in-depth........... 43 Table 4.4 Caretakers' sources of livelihood............................................................... 45 Table 4.5: Caretakers' A ge.......................................................................................... 46 Table 4.6 Year of parents' death................................................................................. 47 Table 4.7 Incidences of double orphanhood.............................................................. 48 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis could not have been completed without the assistance of various persons and institutions. To all of them I give my sincere thanks. However, I wish to express special gratitude to a few of them.