Becoming their mother: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of orphanage personnel in Ukraine

Abstract

Institutional caregiving can have adverse effects on children, yet little is known about the caregivers of institutionalized young children. We surveyed staff in three Ukrainian Baby Homes about their attitudes toward the nature of their work and the needs of the young children in their care. Seventy-one caregivers completed anonymous, semistructured surveys. Popular reasons for working in Baby Homes included benefits and convenient work shifts, morality, and affection for children. Caregivers reported both favorable aspects of the work (enjoyment of children, professional satisfaction) and work difficulties (conflicts, lack of cooperation, little administrative support). In addition, they noted deficiencies in care: high caregiver-child ratio, frequent care disruptions, and lack of stimulation. Direct caregivers (in-room "nannies," educators, and nurses) and other providers (e.g., clinic nurses, physicians, therapists) differed in university-degree attainment, professional motivation, enjoyment of children, professional satisfaction, and perceptions of self as substitute mother. A number of potential "windows for change" were identified, including recognition of deficiencies in institutional care and possibilities for improvement. Implications for interventions are discussed, including the need to consider lack of staff support, high emotional stress, internal conflicts, beliefs and attitudes about institutionalized children and their biological parents, and differences in staff educational achievement.

Orphanage caregivers' perceptions: The impact of organizational factors on the provision of services to orphans in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

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From Maid to Mother: Transforming Facilities, Staff Training, and Caregiver Dignity in an Institutional Facility for Young Children in Nepal

“…While relationships with caregivers seem to be the most impactful aspect of children's experiences (O'Connor, Rutter, & the English and Romanian Adoptees Study Team, ; Rutter, ), there has been little research on factors related to caregiving practices in institutions (Tirella et al., ; Vashchenko, Easterbrooks, & Miller, ), and the views of caregivers are rarely solicited by researchers (Hicks, Archer, & Whitaker, ). Across many cultures, the position of caregiver in residential institutions is perceived as low‐status, high stress, and low support (Heron & Chakrabarti, ).…”

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