Stakeholders’ Involvement and Orphans’ Comfortability with Residential Placement Options in Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Nigerian orphans face a range of challenges, including finding a suitable place to live, having to choose who to live with and this choice is influenced by various factors. This study determined the proportion of orphans’ resident in orphanages and family settings in selected states in Nigeria. It also assessed stakeholder’s input into placement option decision for orphans. The study examined orphans’ comfortability with residential placement and living with caregivers. The issues related to non-comfortability of orphans with residential placement were also investigated. The study employed the descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprised all orphans in formal care (orphanages) and informal care (family settings) in Nigeria. A multistage sample procedure was employed. Five states were selected purposively in Nigeria. Indices such as poverty, high rates of insurgencies and HIV/AIDs were used in states’ selection. A sample of 1,475 in orphanages and 2,418 in family settings were selected for the study making a total of 3,893 orphans. Data was from a larger study on Needs and Vulnerability of Orphans in Orphanages and family settings in Nigeria. Questionnaire for Needs and Vulnerability of Orphans in Orphanages and Family settings in Nigeria was used to elicit information from the respondents. Data collected were analyzed using frequency distribution and percentages. The results showed that more orphans live in family settings (2,418) and orphans residing in both orphanages (30.5%) and family settings (44.2%) are staying there based on the decisions of relatives. As perceived by the orphans, (88.5%) in orphanages and (71.1%) in family settings are comfortable where they are living and (77.6%) in orphanages and (72.3%) in the family settings perceived that they are comfortable living with their caregivers. Finally, it was found out that most prominent of the issues related to the residential placement of orphans in the family settings were poor living conditions (49.7%) and access to resources (48.2%), while orphans in orphanages felt challenged with strict caregivers (46.2%) and lack of access to recreational facilities (16.2%). Based on the findings, it was suggested that families within the communities and stakeholders should support family members who are saddled with the responsibility of caring for orphans. It was also recommended that staffing patterns in orphanages should be restructured to enhance caregivers’ capacity to provide children with stable, warm, and consistent relationships.