Displaying 1 - 7 of 7
Abstract
Evidence demonstrates that encouraging stimulation, early communication, and nutrition improves child development. Detailed feasibility studies in real‐world situations in Africa are limited. We piloted Care for Child Development through six health surveillance assistants (HSAs) in group and individual sessions with 60 caregivers and children <2 years and assessed recruitment, frequency, timings, and quality of intervention. We collected baseline/endline anthropometric, child development (MDAT), maternal stress (SRQ), and family care indicators (FCIs) data and determined…
Abstract
Objective The primary goal was to examine whether Malawi Social Cash Transfer Pilot Scheme, initially implemented in a rural district in central Malawi, improved health outcomes for children aged 6–17. Secondary goals were to examine the effects of individual child- (orphan status and gender) and household-level factors (number of working-age adults and sick adults) on health outcomes. Another secondary goal was to examine whether orphan status modified the cash transfer effect on health outcomes.
Methods This multilevel study used…
This report - produced by SOS Children’s Villages, Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland, and the University of Malawi - is based on a synthesis of eight assessments of the implementation of the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (“the Guidelines”) in Benin, Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
It considers common challenges to implementing the Guidelines identified in the eight countries and provides a platform for effective advocacy to promote every child’s right to quality care. At the end of each chapter, the report provides…
This report, prepared for UNICEF East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) assesses capacity of Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia to manage alternative care systems for children. It is timely as East and Southern African countries pilot and assess cash transfers to poor families, that are seen as having potential to reinforce extended family care. It is worth mentioning at the beginning of this document that it was difficult to obtain information on alternative care. For the most part there is no systematic data collection or collation centrally in these countries on the…
This report, prepared for UNICEF East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) assesses the capacity in Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia to manage alternative care systems for children.
In general, it is difficult to obtain information on alternative care in the assessed countries. There is limited to no systematic, central data collection or collation on children living in informal or formal alternative care situations. Without systematic data, it's difficult to discern trends, and many observations rely on interviews and anecdotal evidence. The information gathered is not…
This article provides an overview of a pilot scheme by UNICEF and the Government of Malawi involving monthly cash transfers to poorest targeted families. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, and this program was designed to provide assistance directly to families in need. The goal was to reduce poverty and hunger while also increasing education, health, protection, and well-being of orphaned and other children.
Monthly cash payments were given to families, with bonuses given for children enrolled in primary or secondary school. The hope is that by helping…
As the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to be experienced most severely in Southern Africa, 14% of children are now orphans and 48% of these children have been orphaned due to AIDS. These children are often uninformed about their rights and have difficulty accessing the support to which they are entitled, particularly if they do not have the support of a parent or caregiver. This report reviews legal and policy frameworks to protect the rights of vulnerable children, particularly those affected or infected by HIV/AIDS in 10 Southern African countries. The countries included are:…