Human rights dimensions of food, health and care in children’s homes in Kampala, Uganda – a qualitative study

Abstract

BackgroundMore than 14 % of Ugandan children are orphaned and many live in children’s homes. Ugandan authorities have targeted adolescent girls as a priority group for nutrition interventions as safeguarding nutritional health before pregnancy can reduce the chance of passing on malnutrition to the offspring and thus future generations. Ugandan authorities have obligations under international human rights law to progressively realise the rights to adequate food, health and care for all Ugandan children. Two objectives guided this study in children’s homes: (a) To examine female adolescent residents’ experiences, attitudes and views regarding: (i) eating patterns and food, (ii) health conditions, and (iii) care practices; and (b) to consider if the conditions in the homes comply with human rights standards and principles for the promotion of the rights to adequate food, health and care.MethodsA human rights-based approach guided the planning and conduct of this study. Five children’s homes in Kampala were included where focus group discussions were held with girls aged 12-14 and 15-17 years. These discussions were analysed through a phenomenological approach. The conditions of food, health and care as experienced by the girls, were compared with international standards for the realisation of the human rights to adequate food, health and care.ResultsFood, health and care conditions varied greatly across the five homes. In some of these the girls consumed only one meal per day and had no access to clean drinking water, soap, toilet paper and sanitary napkins. The realisation of the right to adequate food for the girls was not met in three homes, the realisation of the right to health was not met in two homes, and the realisation of the right to care was not met in one home.ConclusionsIn three of the selected children’s homes human rights standards for food, health or care were not met. Care in the children’s homes was an important contributing factor for whether standards for the rights to adequate food and health were met.

Sexual Orientation Differences in Adolescent Health Care Access and Health-Promoting Physician Advice

“…6 Compared to heterosexual adults, sexual minority adults are more likely to delay seeking health care due to cost and experience more difficulty in finding a provider. 4,7 Past research suggests that disparities in health care access are more evident among female sexual minority adults.…”

Nutritional status of Ugandan school‐children: The effect of age imprecision

“…Information on the nutrition status of school‐children is quite lacking. Available data mainly refer to particular groups of children, such as adolescents living in foster homes (Vogt, Rukooko, Iversen, & Eide, ), or children infected or affected by HIV (Nalwoga et al, ). Furthermore, even the comprehensive analysis on global trends in malnutrition among 128.9 million children, adolescents, and adults (NCD‐RisC, ) is mainly based on information retrieved from DHS, and focused on children 0–5 years, or individuals within the reproductive age (15–49 years), mainly females.…”

“…Although rich in natural resources, favorable conditions for agriculture, and is realizing steady health, economic and social transformation, Uganda is still deeply affected by malnutrition, poor access to health care, poverty, and disease (Government of Uganda, ; UBOS & ICF, ; Vogt et al, ). According to the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UBOS & ICF, ), 28.9% of children under five are stunted, 3.5% are wasted, 10.5% are underweight, and 3.7% are overweight (based on weight for height).…”

“…According to the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UBOS & ICF, ), 28.9% of children under five are stunted, 3.5% are wasted, 10.5% are underweight, and 3.7% are overweight (based on weight for height). Further, a substantial percentage (14%) of Ugandan children is orphans, thus stretching the Ugandan child protection structures and hindering the improvement of children's nutritional status (MGLSD, ; Vogt et al, ).…”

“…Relatedly, almost one out of four Ugandan girls 15–19 years old are already mothers, and they are also likely malnourished (Vogt et al, ). It is estimated that malnutrition is responsible for about 35% of deaths among children under five (Agaba, Pomeroy‐Stevens, Ghosh, & Griffiths, ) and that it will cost Uganda about 7.7 billion US$ in lost productivity between 2013 and 2025 (Pomeroy‐Stevens et al, ).…”