Abstract : The objectives of this study were to identify any innovative or indigenous models of care for orphaned children, and to gain insights into the requirements needed to improve existing models of care.
Household interviews were used in the two survey regions (the Copperbelt and Southern Provinces). However, due to the differing nature of these communities different sampling techniques were used. Three questionnaires were prepared in English and then modified for use by local interviewers. The first was a household questionnaire, the second an orphans' questionnaire, and the third a caretakers' questionnaire. In order to identify the models of care being used, one-day workshops were held in each of the selected four communities within the two regions, with the proceedings being recorded by one of the participating community members.
The investigation found that the status of children in the participating communities was poor and that the ability of households to meet the basic needs of their members was very limited. Fifty-four percent of the children in the survey regions were orphans who had lost one or both of their parents, while 71.5 percent of the households were homes to orphans. The most frequent caretaker was the surviving parent, his/her siblings, or the orphan's grandparents. Although this showed the current cohesiveness of the Zambian extended family in the care of orphans, this network was facing a lot of stress. This was brought out by the finding that 60 percent of the caretakers were providing orphan care rather reluctantly, largely because there was no one else prepared to do so.
Unlike their urban counterparts, rural households were better able to feed their members. However, fewer rural children were able to attend school, whereas more were able to in the urban areas.
The community workshops failed to identify any new innovative models for the care of orphaned children. They did however create an increased local awareness of the problems facing both them and their children.
A four tier response to the problem of orphans was developed and discussed. The workshop participants insisted that this be recognised and developed with the assistance of local communities. The role-players in the four-tier response are (1) the family, which must identify children at risk and orphans and provide the basic day to day needs of the children as well as emotional support; (2) the community, which must support both the orphans and the caretakers as well as act as a forum for lobbying authorities to assist in providing an effective response to their needs; (3) the churches, NGOs and CBOs, who should coordinate all responses whilst also providing material support and support services; and (4) the state, which must develop local infrastructure, empower state personnel, create an enabling environment at all levels, modify state services, and facilitate funding of grassroots responses.