TY - JOUR
T1 - Vulnerability Multiplied
T2 - Health Needs Assessment of 13–18-Year-Old Female Orphan and Vulnerable Children in Kenya
AU - Chhabra, Rosy
AU - Teitelman, Nehama
AU - Silver, Ellen J.
AU - Raufman, Jill
AU - Bauman, Laurie J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This pilot grant was funded by Einstein’s Global Health Center. We are grateful to St. Francis Community Hospital staff for engaging all the participants (in Kasarani, Nairobi) and Mr. David Dennis Omondi Okello (OVC Project Coordinator— APHIAplus Nairobi-Coast) for his community mobilization support and guidance.
Funding Information:
Conflicts of Interest: The study was supported by a pilot grant from the Global Health Center of Einstein. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the positions of the granting agency or of the institution by which the authors were employed. Corresponding author: Rosy Chhabra, rosy.chhabra@einstein.yu.edu
PY - 2018/6
Y1 - 2018/6
N2 - Globally, orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) affected/infected by HIV/AIDS face many health risks, including malnutrition, early/unprotected sex, early forced marriage, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), substance abuse, child labor, and high rates of mental health problems. We conducted formative research on mental health issues and HIV/STI risk behavior in Kasarani, a large slum in Nairobi, to guide the development of future interventions. Collaborating with a local community hospital, we used focus groups in the community to gather information that was used to generate a survey of 261 OVCs aged 13–18 years. Focus groups converged in deeming that OVCs were a high-risk group, and girls were especially at higher health risk. Living within an impoverished environment makes these girls vulnerable to marginalization and exploitation. Specific concerns for girls included peer pressure, depression, suicidal ideation, sexual relationship with infected partners, lack of health education (specifically HIV/STI prevention information), and sexual exploitation by older men.
AB - Globally, orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) affected/infected by HIV/AIDS face many health risks, including malnutrition, early/unprotected sex, early forced marriage, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), substance abuse, child labor, and high rates of mental health problems. We conducted formative research on mental health issues and HIV/STI risk behavior in Kasarani, a large slum in Nairobi, to guide the development of future interventions. Collaborating with a local community hospital, we used focus groups in the community to gather information that was used to generate a survey of 261 OVCs aged 13–18 years. Focus groups converged in deeming that OVCs were a high-risk group, and girls were especially at higher health risk. Living within an impoverished environment makes these girls vulnerable to marginalization and exploitation. Specific concerns for girls included peer pressure, depression, suicidal ideation, sexual relationship with infected partners, lack of health education (specifically HIV/STI prevention information), and sexual exploitation by older men.
KW - HIV/STI prevention
KW - OVC
KW - mental health
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U2 - 10.1002/wmh3.267
DO - 10.1002/wmh3.267
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85047663499
SN - 1948-4682
VL - 10
SP - 129
EP - 145
JO - World Medical and Health Policy
JF - World Medical and Health Policy
IS - 2
ER -
