Circumstances and motivations for fostering children in Zambia

Document Type

Article (peer-reviewed)

Publication Date

2008

Abstract

This short report explores motivations and circumstances of fostering children at six sites in Zambia. Cross-sectional community household surveys using multistage random sampling (totalling 1503 households, reporting on 5009 children) and participatory qualitative research (focus groups and in-depth interviews) with adult and youth community members were conducted as part of baseline research for the US-funded RAPIDS (Reaching HIV/AIDS Affected People with Integrated Development and Support) programme. Interviews and discussions with community members revealed the complexity of fostering patterns and decision-making, considered from the dual perspectives of fostering household and fostered child. Programme implementers need to recognize the complexity of fostering in intervention design, including the possibility of introducing perverse incentives.

DOI

10.1080/17450120801918785

Language

English

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