"The child means the family, the child means the future, the child
means the community. Our goal is to strengthen our understanding of African families and institutions so that they in turn can invest in their future, their children." -- Steve Howard, Editor, CAJ

Childhood in Africa: An Interdisciplinary Journal

Childhood in Africa:
An Interdisciplinary Journal

Volume 1, Issue 1 • Fall 2009
ISSN 1948-6502 (online)

As an open-access, interdisciplinary journal focusing on children and childhood in Africa, CAJ provides a resource for academics, health care providers, NGOs, government officials, CBOs, and African media outlets as well as a forum for them to publish their work. CAJ emphasizes both original research and the application of research to practice. In addition to full feature articles, the "From the Field" section provides short viniettes, briefly discussing wider implications for applied methodologies. Please feel free to print and share the articles. If you reproduce them, please credit the source.Click here for the entire issue
FEATURE ARTICLES

Child Fosterage and the Developmental Markers of Ovambo Children in Namibia:
A Look at Gender and Kinship
Jill Brown, Creighton University

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to better understand the practice of child fosterage both in and out of crisis among Owambo speaking people in Namibia, Southern Africa. The study utilized the existing 2000 Namibian Demographic and Health Survey (N=5949) (Macro 2000).  Results indicate that when controlling for age of the child, fostered children experience less education and probability of attending school than biological children. Degree of relatedness to the head of household further differentiates the disparities. Gender differences emerged to disadvantage less closely related boys. No differences were found between orphans and non-orphans in education or health. Fosterage seems to be a protective factor for orphans closely related to their caretakers. Understanding how gender and kinship, and the broader context of fosterage shape family life for both orphans and non orphans may help the development community identify interventions for the most vulnerable of children in Africa.
Full text PDF

Children's Vulnerablility to HIV/AIDS,Poverty and Malnutrition in Buhaya:
Advancement Through Women's Empowerment
Valerie Githinji, Wageningen Universiteit, The Netherlands

Abstract
Children form a vulnerable segment in society in general, given their dependence on adults for their immediate needs. HIV/AIDS has resulted in increasing children’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, poverty and hunger. This epidemic has also resulted in many children being orphaned and raised by grandparents and members of their extended family. This paper focuses on children’s particular vulnerability to the vicious cycle of poverty, hunger and HIV/AIDS in Buhaya in northwestern Tanzania, a region that has been impacted by HIV/AIDS for nearly three decades. The region has also experienced a decline in access to land and agricultural productivity, which has escalated household poverty. I highlight the plight of children living with single mothers who are often viewed as ‘illegitimate’ and not recognized by patriarchal Bahaya clans. This results in deprivation of their rights to land inheritance, as well as to basic needs such as food security, health and education. Given that children’s and women’s health, nutrition, and poverty generally work in synergy, I argue that empowering women and upholding their human rights is crucial to advancing the lives and future of children.
Full Text Pdf


Circumventing or Superimposing Poverty on the African Child?
The Almajiri Syndrome in Northern Nigeria
Moses T. Aluaigba, Bayero Universiy, Kano

Abstract
This paper discusses the nature and problems associated with street begging by children as it exists today in virtually all states of Northern Nigeria. It contends that this practice in the area is antithetical to human capital development because of its proclivity to deprivation and abuse of children; inducing poverty and further exacerbating underdevelopment of the North. It suggests a sincere commitment by the northern state governments to funding education; a synergy between Qur’anic schools and Universal Basic Education; endorsement and domestication of the 2003 Child’s Rights Act by states of the north and the banning of itinerant scholars, migration of children and begging in the north as ways of eradicating begging among children in the region.
Full Text Pdf

Mothers' and Fathers' Perceptions of Paternal Involvement in Child Care in Uganda
Apollo Nkwake, Uganda Christian University

Abstract
Two hundred and twenty two working fathers with working wives and two hundred and fourty six working mothers with working husbands were randomly sampled and interviewed to ascertain the circumstances under which  fathers in Uganda  are getting involved in child care tasks (which traditionally in Uganda are a women’s domain) as a result of increasing maternal involvement in paid employment. Seven in every ten fathers and nine in every ten mothers expressed the view that fathers who baby sit are ‘well brought up’. Seven in every ten fathers expressed the opinion that ‘Baby sitting should not be left for mothers’ Most mothers and most fathers thought that fathers should be more involved in activities like helping children with home work, school, holding and playing with children and attending to their health. Five in every ten mothers expressed that they didn’t think their husbands find it unfair for wives to do most of the child care work. Most fathers understood that their presence and involvement is crucial for their children’s development. Fathers and mothers believed that fathers’ involvement in child care is necessary regardless of their financial contribution to the household and their work schedule.
Full Text Pdf


FROM THE FIELD

Cascading Positive Change in Teachers:
Active Teaching and Learning in Schools, in Zambia
Jessi Hanson-Javier and Mirellise Vazquez, Childfund International
Full Text Pdf

Empowering those Responsible:
Kinship Imperatives in Maternal and Infant Health in Northern Ghana
Jessica Lum and Aaron R. Denham, Northern Arizona University
Full Text Pdf


Liberating Children in Liberia:
BioCognetic Peace Education for a New Generation
Marvin Garbeh Davis and Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle
Full Text Pdf