Improving child wellbeing and care in Sub-Saharan Africa: The role of social protection

Psychosocial well-being in adulthood in response to systemic barriers in kinship care as experienced during adolescence

“…The narratives support the supposition that children and adolescents raised by grandparents may be considered increasingly vulnerable given that poverty is a significant threat to well-being (Beegle et al, 2010;Roelen et al, 2016). This does not only relate to the grandparents' difficulties in providing adequately for the children.…”

“…The practice of kinship care is common in Africa, given that the extended family is the favoured form of provision for childcare (Roelen, Delap, Jones, & Chettri, 2016). The prevalence of kinship care is attributed to macrosystemic influences, such as migratory labour practices; as well as microsystemic influences, such as the relationship status of the child's birth parents (Grant & Yeatman, 2012;Hosegood, 2009).…”

“…The prevalence of kinship care is attributed to macrosystemic influences, such as migratory labour practices; as well as microsystemic influences, such as the relationship status of the child's birth parents (Grant & Yeatman, 2012;Hosegood, 2009). Poverty is recognized as a key determinant in family segregation, parental loss, and the resultant caregiving practices (Block, 2014;Roelen et al, 2016). Moreover, although grandparents are often amongst the poorest of social groups, they are more likely to accept responsibility of kinship care (Roelen et al, 2016).…”

“…Poverty is recognized as a key determinant in family segregation, parental loss, and the resultant caregiving practices (Block, 2014;Roelen et al, 2016). Moreover, although grandparents are often amongst the poorest of social groups, they are more likely to accept responsibility of kinship care (Roelen et al, 2016). As such, children in kinship care are more likely to reside in households facing financial constraints within already impoverished environments (Beegle et al, 2010).…”

Social Protection and Agricultural Production in ECOWAS: The Youth Unemployment Question

“…The contribution of Roelen et al (2017) in their article presented findings from cross -country qualitative research regarding the impact of social protection on loss of parental care, support to foster or kinship care and well-being in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically social protection programmes in Ghana, Rwanda and South Africa.…”