Comparative studies on orphans and non-orphans in Uganda

Abstract

There are now in Uganda more than two million orphans, i.e. children under 18 years old who have lost one or both of their parents. Roughly one in every five children is an orphan and one in every four households in the country is caring for at least one orphan. As a follow-up to a Situation Analysis of Orphans in Uganda in 2002, this monograph presents six studies carried out by Ugandan researchers in 2003 and 2004 on different aspects of the orphan crisis about which the Situation Analysis found inadequate data. Five studies focused on the following: the comparative psycho-social situation of orphans relative to other children (two studies), the legal issues (such as property grabbing and abuse) which they face, suspected differential care-giving practices, and whether orphans face greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS). The sixth study conducted a comparative evaluation of an orphan support and intervention effort to determine its impact and to test a particular evaluation approach. The results of these studies have already contributed to the preparatory discussions and formulation of the Uganda National Policy on Orphans as well as to the Uganda National Strategic Program Plan of Interventions for Orphans which were produced in 2004.