The government of Kenya cash transfer for orphaned and vulnerable children

Cross-sectional comparison of household and individual characteristics of those with and without

Bibliographic Data

ID19517311
AuthorsDavid Ayuku (0000-0001-7401-1165, Moi University), Lonnie Embleton (0000-0002-9415-8903, Moi University), Julius Koech (AMPATH), Lukoye Atwoli (0000-0001-7710-9723, Moi University), Liangyuan Hu (0000-0002-4067-892X, Brown University), Samuel Ayaya (University of Bahrain), Joseph W Hogan (0000-0001-7959-7361, Brown University), Joseph Hogan, Winstone Nyandiko (0000-0002-7639-9287, University of Bahrain), Rachel Vreeman (0000-0001-5460-8204, University of Bahrain), Allan Kamanda (Moi University), Paula Braitstein (0000-0003-0541-2955, Moi University, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume14
Issue1
Pages25-25
Publication date2014-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMC International Health and Human Rights (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1472-698X • E-ISSN: 1472-698X
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/1472-698x-14-25
PMID25239449
PMCIDPMC4175501
OpenAlexW2045479734
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited29

BACKGROUND: The 'Cash Transfer to Orphans and Vulnerable Children' (CT-OVC) in Kenya is a government-supported program intended to provide regular and predictable cash transfers (CT) to poor households taking care of OVC. CT programs can be an effective means of alleviating poverty and facilitating the attainment of an adequate standard of living for people's health and well-being and other international human rights. The objective of this analysis was to compare the household socioeconomic status, school enrolment, nutritional status, and future outlook of orphaned and separated children receiving the CT compared to those not receiving a CT. METHODS: This project analyzes baseline data from a cohort of orphaned and separated children aged <19 years and non-orphaned children living in 300 randomly selected households (HH) in 8 Locations of Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. Baseline data were analyzed using multivariable logistic and Poisson regression comparing children in CT-HH vs. non-CT HH. Odds ratios are adjusted (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for guardian age and sex, child age and sex, and intra-HH correlation. RESULTS: Included in this analysis were data from 1481 children and adolescents in 300 HH (503 participants in CT, 978 in non-CT households). Overall there were 922 (62.3%) single orphans, 324 (21.9%) double orphans, and 210 (14.2%) participants had both parents alive and were living with them. Participants in CT-HH were less likely to have ≥2 pairs of clothes compared to non-CT HH (AOR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.16-0.63). Those in CT HH were less likely to have missed any days of school in the preceding month (AOR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.42-0.94) and those aged <1-18 years in CT-HH were less likely to have height stunting for their age (AOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47-0.89). Participants aged at least 10 years in CT-HH were more likely to have a positive future outlook (AOR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.12-2.65). CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents in households receiving the CT-OVC appear to have better nutritional status, school attendance, and optimism about the future, compared to those in households not receiving the CT, in spite of some evidence of continued material deprivation. Consideration should be given to expanding the program further

Cash transfers · Cohort · Confidence interval · Economic growth · Environmental health · Logistic regression · Odds · Odds ratio · Poisson regression · Population · Poverty · Public health · Socioeconomic status · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare