Exploring psychological disorders caused by poverty amongst orphans and vulnerable children living within child - headed households.

Abstract

Orphanhood and vulnerability are two variables found to be positively correlated to poverty within child- headed households (CHH) in Zimbabwe. Whilst the Zimbabwean Millennium Goal number 1 aims to eradicate poverty and hunger by 2015, some orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) within CHHs continue to face psychological challenges perpetuated by the ever- rising poverty datum line, that seem to be leading victims to psychological disorders . Arguing from a humanistic point of view, this survey examined the psychological disorders noted among OVC by community caregivers and teachers in Chipinge District of Manicaland in Zimbabwe. A total sample of 20 OVC, were purposefully and clinically sampled, observed initially in their natural settings and later on interviewed to solicit data on their developmental experiences. The study also presents a detailed account of the manifestations of resultant psychological disorders most of which were found to be rooted in poverty and need deprivation amongst the majority of the OVC. The children lack sufficient resources to sustain family life. Findings of this survey confirmed that OVC in CHH are faced with psychological difficulties that are somehow leading to the mushrooming of symptoms of psychological disorders such as dissociative, affective, anxiety and somatoform disorders. The implication of such situations amongst children, is that communities need to make collaborative efforts to assist all OVC to live a more or less normalized family life within their poverty stricken CHHs.

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