Search results for ‘Subject term:"vulnerable children"’ Sort:
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Understanding vulnerability: from categories to experiences of young Congolese people in Uganda
- Author:
- CLARK Christina R.
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Society, 21(4), July 2007, pp.284-295.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article problematises the ‘vulnerables’ category that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees applies to groups of refugees. Drawing on 9 months’ qualitative research with young Congolese refugees in Uganda, it presents research subjects’ self-identification and lived realities that do not correspond to the homogenous, fixed ‘vulnerables’ ideal. Moreover, it argues that the ‘vulnerables’ categorisation approach can provoke a number of counter-productive effects, including a focus on symptoms rather than causes, inflated numbers of ‘vulnerables’ and undermining indigenous support structures. An alternative approach that interrogates and addresses the contextual and relational aspects of vulnerability is proposed.
Gender psychosocial health of children orphaned by AIDS
- Authors:
- ONUOHA Francis N., MUNAKATA Tsunetsugu
- Journal article citation:
- Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 5(3), September 2010, pp.256-267.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
According to the WHO, gender data, defined as sex difference between females and males, is essential for social health policy, planning and care. There is limited information on the gender social health of orphans and vulnerable children who may require these social health programs most. The authors examine gender psychosocial health outcomes in a sample of 952 sub-Saharan African children (Uganda, 459 and South Africa, 492). The study group included children orphaned by AIDS (n = 185), those orphaned by other causes (n = 475) and those whose parents were living (n = 292). Participants had a mean age of 3.59 years. Perceived child abuse, anxiety, depression, social discrimination, parental/foster care, self-esteem and social support measures estimated psychosocial health. AIDS-orphaned boys scored highest for distress psychosocial health factor, as did AIDS-orphaned girls. However, no significant gender difference was observed between girls and boys in each of the three groups. It is concluded that boys and girls show identical psychosocial health states, irrespective of their varying social circumstances. The authors discuss advocacy for “female-specific” psychosocial health care and suggest while being age sensitive, what is needed is a gender-neutral social support programme that address the instrumental, tangible, informational and emotional needs of orphan boys and girls alike.