Socio-economic Factors Influencing Vulnerability Of Children In Meru Cluster-acase Of Compassion International Kenya Partiners.

Abstract

This research project was concerned with factors influencing orphans vulnerability of children in Meru Cluster. The objectives of the study included; to establish the influence of HIV and AIDS on vulnerability on children, to establish influence of poverty on vulnerability of children, to establish the influence of domestic violence on vulnerability of children and to establish the influence of individualism on vulnerability of children. The study used descriptive survey design. The sample size comprised of 158 children sponsored in different projects, between the ages of 11- below18 years both boys and girls, from the six projects comprising the Meru cluster. Stratified sampling was used to draw a sample of 158. Questionnaires were used as the main tools for data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS and then displayed by use of frequency tables, percentages and texts .It was found that HIV and AIDS had influence on orphans and vulnerability of children it makes children be left alone after their parents die out of the pandemic hence making the children orphan and vulnerable; it was also found that poverty had influence on vulnerability of children because the children are not in a position to afford basic commodities thus rendering them vulnerable; domestic violence had an influence on vulnerability of children since children needs to live in an environment which is not abusive, therefore it was found that other than their parents being abused also children were being abused and this made them to run away from home and it was found that the philosophy of individualism had influence on orphans and vulnerability of children because even when the parents die the community members don’t want to take the responsibility of the orphans. It was recommended that, the government should ensure there are measures in place to cater for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, domestic violence should be viewed as crime and be treated as such and the government to increase the cash transfer program so that many vulnerable children can benefit. It also suggested that Compassion International Kenya to increase the number of children sponsored in the households and not limit to only one child.