Factors Contributing to Maternal-Child Separation in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

Abstract

Background:The Haitian orphanage sector receives more than 70 million United States Dollars (USD) in foreign aid annually and continues grow; there are over 500 orphanages in Port-Au-Prince alone. An estimated 80% of the 30,000 children living in Haitian orphanages have at least one living parent.Objectives:This research seeks to identify factors contributing to maternal-child separation in Port-Au-Prince to understand motivations and attitudes surrounding maternal-child separation. We hypothesized that poverty, health status, and current state of the family unit are influential in the mother’s decision to separate from her child.Methods:From June to August 2017, a chain referral sampling study was conducted in Port-Au-Prince and the surrounding metropolitan area. Seventy interviews were conducted with (1) Mothers – separated (n = 8) and non-separated (n = 48) – and (2) Community leaders exposed to maternal-child separation (n = 18). The semi-structured interview consisted of questions about (1) exposure to maternal-child separation, (2) circumstances surrounding maternal-child separation, and (3) factors contributing to maternal-child separation. Additionally, all mothers completed a survey including demographic information and multiple validated surveys: Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and PTSD Checklist (PCL) to address quality of life, depression, and PTSD, respectively.Findings:This study found separation to be associated with poor economic means compounded with other factors, most notably access to education, ability to care for disabled children, insufficient support, and poor maternal mental health. Additional themes identified include negative stigma towards maternal-child separation and sparse education surrounding family planning. Quantitative findings revealed separated mothers experienced significantly higher rates of PTSD compared to non-separated, small but statistically worse quality of life, and no difference in rates of major depression.Conclusion:This research finds economic means to be insufficient in predicting maternal-child separation, with access to education being the most salient contributing factor mentioned after economics. Findings from this study will inform development of programming focusing on education, family planning, and social support in Port-Au-Prince.

The Haitian orphanage crisis: Exporting neoliberal family ideals in the debate on vulnerable childhoods in Haiti

“…Due to limited funding for child protection, the Haitian government has been obligated to enact its alternative care policies through collaboration with international child welfare organisations and the many Christian missions that have long dominated the landscape of humanitarian aid and development in the country (Ashley et al., 2019; IBESR, 2015). 4 Using the assistance of these organisations, IBESR's goal is family reunification of institutionalised children with biological parents whenever possible, with placement in extended family care and family foster‐care as secondary options (IBESR, 2013b).…”

“…The national strategy for child protection clearly affirms the child's right to the knowledge, affection and material support of biological parents (IBESR, 2015:2), while also noting that the biological family appears to be in crisis due to poverty and other social problems. These factors are considered to have led to an abandonment of parental responsibility on the part of birth parents who are ‘not invested in their role’ (Gallie & Marcellus, 2013:35), 5 resulting in high rates of parent–child separation (Ashley et al., 2019; Udy, 2014:67).…”

Neglecting Maternal Depression Compromises Child Health and Development Outcomes, and Violates Children’s Rights in South Africa

“…Children with compromised emotional attachment show attachment insecurity, delayed language acquisition, cognitive impairment, delay in achieving developmental milestones and low self-esteem [ 78 , 79 ]. Moreover, maternal depression and resultant emotional detachment is a risk factor for child abandonment [ 80 , 81 ], which increases the risk for poor outcomes exponentially.…”