Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2014 Feb;38(2):304-16.
doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.09.012. Epub 2013 Nov 5.

Physical and sexual abuse in orphaned compared to non-orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

J Nichols  1 , L Embleton  2 , A Mwangi  3 , G Morantz  4 , R Vreeman  5 , S Ayaya  6 , D Ayuku  2 , P Braitstein  7
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Physical and sexual abuse in orphaned compared to non-orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

J Nichols et al. Child Abuse Negl. 2014 Feb.

Abstract

This systematic review assessed the quantitative literature to determine whether orphans are more likely to experience physical and/or sexual abuse compared to non-orphans in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It also evaluated the quality of evidence and identified research gaps. Our search identified 10 studies, all published after 2005, from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. The studies consisted of a total 17,336 participants (51% female and 58% non-orphans). Of those classified as orphans (n=7,315), 73% were single orphans, and 27% were double orphans. The majority of single orphans were paternal orphans (74%). Quality assessment revealed significant variability in the quality of the studies, although most scored higher for general design than dimensions specific to the domain of orphans and abuse. Combined estimates of data suggested that, compared to non-orphans, orphans are not more likely to experience physical abuse (combined OR=0.96, 95% CI [0.79, 1.16]) or sexual abuse (combined OR=1.25, 95% CI [0.88, 1.78]). These data suggest that orphans are not systematically at higher risk of experiencing physical or sexual abuse compared to non-orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. However, because of inconsistent quality of data and reporting, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Several recommendations are made for improving data quality and reporting consistency on this important issue.

Keywords: Abuse; Orphans; Physical abuse; Sexual abuse; Sub-Saharan Africa; Systematic review.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. PRISMA 2009 Flow Diagram
*Other includes articles that lacked original data, were reported in an ineligible format (e.g. book, dissertation), lacked a comparison group, or reported only qualitative data.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), & The World Bank. The plight of orphans and vulnerable children in nairobi urban slums in the face of HIV/AIDS. Nairobi, Kenya: APHRC; 2007.
    1. Ainsworth M, Filmer D. Inequalities in children's schooling: AIDS, orphanhood, poverty, and gender. World Development. 2006;34:1099–1128.
    1. Amoako Johnson F, Padmadas SS, Smith PW. Orphanhood and vulnerability: A conduit to poor child health outcomes in Rwanda. AIDS Care. 2010;22:314–323. - PubMed
    1. Anda RF, Felitti VJ, Bremner JD, Walker JD, Whitfield C, Perry BD, et al. Giles WH. The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood. A convergence of evidence from neurobiology and epidemiology. European Archives of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences. 2006;256:174–186. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Baguma P, Kyomugisha E, Kimeze SN. Psychosocial needs assessment of AIDS orphans in Uganda: A case study in Masaka district. Mental Health and Psychotherapy in Africa. 2005:366–418.