A survey on residential childcare institutions in the city of Nairobi

Abstract

The research study described herein is an attempt to assess: a) How the existing Child Care institutions in Nairobi cope with the ever increasing number of vagrant children. b) The adequacy of existing Child Care institutions in providing Child Care. CHAPTER 1: The introduction gives a short survey on the child population in Kenya and the increase of crime and vagrancy amongst the children's population. Under "statement of the problem" it is pointed out that in the last 16 years there has been a 100% increase of vagrant children in Nairobi and to meet this problem a number of children institutione have been put up. The question is how do these institutions cope with the problem and what kind of child Care do they have? CHAPTER II: Theoretical Analysis. Pointing out the gaps in literature on Residential Child Care in general particularly in Africa, emphasis is given to the effects of parental deDrivation on mental health when growing up_ CHAPTER III: Methodologly It describes the way in which the institutions as well as the children were selected for the study. It also deals with the different sources and methods of data collection, Types of respondents as well as problems and experiences. CHAPTER IV: The findings highlight the causes for establishing Child Care institutions such as loss of parents, mental or physical illness of children, broken homes and low income. Detailed data are given on the background of the children with regard to age, tribe, religion, who makes the referrals and the gradual increase of vagrant children in the city. Furthermore, the findings on Child Care standards are related to buildings, nutrition, education, medical care, giving an overal cost per child in each institution. The last section in this chapter describes the problems related to Child Care in institutions. CHAPTER V: Recommendations and Conclusion: The recommendations based on the findings are focused on alternative ways of solving the problem such as fostering, adoption or family helper type projects.