Exploring impacts of multi-year, community-based care programs for orphans and vulnerable children: a case study from...

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Development Economics
• Social Welfare

Background:

• The Community-Based Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CBCO) program in Kenya aimed to improve the welfare of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
• The program focused on supporting savings and loan associations for OVC caregivers, primarily elderly women.
• Eastern Province, Kenya, had approximately 3000 OVC in 1500 households supported by the CBCO program between 2006-2010.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the CBCO program on household food security and OVC educational attainment.
• To compare welfare outcomes between program participants and non-participants within local and adjacent communities.
• To investigate disparities in welfare outcomes among orphans and vulnerable children.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional data collected in 2011 from 1500 randomly selected households.
• Three population groups were studied: program participants (CBCO), local non-participants (Group L), and adjacent non-participants (Group A).
• Household food security was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access instrument; OVC educational attainment was also assessed.

Main Results:

• Most CBCO households remained severely food insecure post-program, similar to non-program households.
• Primary school participation was high due to free education policies.
• Secondary school completion rates were low across all groups, particularly for young adults (18-22 years) who were children during the program.

Conclusions:

• The CBCO program, while potentially beneficial, did not eliminate disparities in food security and educational outcomes.
• Program participant outcomes were comparable to those of non-participants in both local and adjacent communities.
• Further interventions may be needed to address persistent welfare challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children.