Evidence in support of foster care during acute refugee crises

The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) policy encourages foster care during refugee emergencies. We examined evidence to support this policy using data from the 1994 Rwandan refugee crisis.

The association of weight gain and acute illness with family status (foster children vs children living with their biological families) was examined using latent growth curve and repeated measures logistic regression analysis.

Weight gain for all children averaged 0.40 kg/month and was associated with child's age but not with family status, child's or caregiver's sex, caregiver's marital status, possession of blankets or plastic sheeting, severe malnutrition, month of enrollment, or acute illness. Illness was not more common among foster children than among children living with their biological families.

This analysis supports the UNHCR/UNICEF recommendation of fostering for unaccompanied children during an acute refugee crisis.