Discrepancies in Maternal Orphanhood Estimates in Zimbabwe
Author Information
Author(s): Laura Robertson, Simon Gregson, Chido Madanhire, Nick Walker, Peter Mushati, George Garnett, Charles Nyamukapa
Primary Institution: Imperial College, London, UK
Hypothesis
Model-based estimates of maternal orphanhood are higher than those based on demographic and health surveys.
Conclusion
The study found that misreporting of foster parents as natural parents contributes to discrepancies in maternal orphanhood estimates.
Supporting Evidence
- 33.3% of maternal orphans reported a living mother in later rounds.
- 13.4% of paternal orphans reported a living father in later rounds.
- Misreporting was more common among younger children.
- Foster mothers were more likely to be misreported as natural mothers.
Takeaway
In Zimbabwe, many children reported as orphans might actually have living parents because foster parents sometimes claim them as their own.
Methodology
The study compared estimates of orphan prevalence from a household census with those from demographic and health surveys.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of misreporting due to the adoption effect, where foster parents are incorrectly reported as natural parents.
Limitations
The study only detected individuals reported as orphans whose parents were subsequently reported as alive, potentially underestimating the extent of underenumeration of orphans.
Participant Demographics
The study involved children aged 0-14 years from various socioeconomic strata in Manicaland, Zimbabwe.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.002
Confidence Interval
26.7 to 39.9
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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