Socio-economic factors and orphan migration in Kisumu district, Kenya

Abstract

The growing numbers of AIDS orphans continues to present unprecedented socio-economic challenge to policy makers and institutions that assist them. Orphan migration, though driven by socio-economic necessity, has had untold consequences to spatial and temporal distribution of orphans in Kisumu District. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors in orphan migration in Kisumu District. The study, borrowing heavily from the adult migration and the multiple independent movements of AIDS orphans theoretical perspectives, uses descriptive study design to guide its execution. Pearson’s Chi-square (X2 ) test was run to test possible association between predisposer background (orphan and care provider) and identified orphan care factors while Logistic Regression model was used to assess the likelihood of orphan care factors driving orphan migration. Qualitative methods using Focus Group Discussions and In-depth Interviews were later employed to get deeper insights on care conditions and socio-economic causes of orphan migration. The study found that geographical disparity of orphans could be explained partly by orphan migration in Kisumu District. It has been demonstrated that care provider background characteristics including sex, place of residence, current marital status, employment status, level of education, and relation to orphan were significantly associated with orphan access to food and clothing, and exposure to stigma, and physical and sexual abuse. Indeed lack of economic and psycho-social support to households that care for orphans were the main cause of orphan mobility. The study recommends that in the short run, the governmental and non-governmental agencies should offer material and technical support to existing orphan care institutions to better care for the orphans. This will help curb high orphan mobility. On the long-term, high structural poverty levels in the region needs to be addressed to enable the community cope better in the management of orphans