Mouko A, Mbika-Cardorelle A, Mboungou V, Mambou J B, Ibara J R, Senga P
Service de pédiatrie, CHU de Brazzaville, Congo.
Sante. 2009 Jan-Mar;19(1):21-3. doi: 10.1684/san.2008.0129.
Children are orphaned everywhere, but their situation is particularly acute in developing countries.
To assess the epidemiologic situation of orphans in Brazzaville and to identify the social and medical determinants of their placement in institutions.
This exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted from March 3, 2003, through January 30, 2004 (11 months). Direct interviews based on a standardized questionnaire collected information from the orphans old enough to answer questions, their parental substitutes or guardians, and the orphanage directors. The evaluation of the conditions in the orphanages was based on observable, quantifiable indicators. ON THE WHOLE: We identified 12 orphanages and 162 children: 92 boys (56.8%) and 70 girls (43.2%). Their average age was 10.5 years +/- 3.5 (range: 3 months to 15 years). Overall, 38 (23.5%) had lost only their mother, 22 (13.6%) their father, and 102 (63%) both parents. The child was placed at the orphanage by the family in 97 cases (60%), the social services department in 50 cases (30.9%), and by the police or the Red Cross in 15 cases (9.3%). The reasons for placement were: lack of financial support (137 cases, 84.5%), other social reasons (8 cases, 4.9%), abandonment (3 cases, 2%) and unspecified causes (14 case, 8.6%). The principal causes of parents' deaths were: pregnancy and childbirth 73 cases (45%), war, 45 cases (28%), HIV infection, 26 cases (16%), malaria, 6 cases (4%), accidents, 8 cases (5%) and unknown, 4 cases (2.5%).
Orphanages are one alternative for the survival of children without parents able to care for them. Attention to them, support of their activities, and improvement of the living conditions there are all important.
世界各地都有儿童成为孤儿，但在发展中国家，他们的处境尤为严峻。
评估布拉柴维尔孤儿的流行病学状况，并确定他们被安置在机构中的社会和医学决定因素。
这项探索性横断面研究于2003年3月3日至2004年1月30日（11个月）进行。基于标准化问卷的直接访谈收集了年龄足够大能够回答问题的孤儿、他们的父母替代者或监护人以及孤儿院院长的信息。对孤儿院状况的评估基于可观察、可量化的指标。总体情况：我们确定了12所孤儿院和162名儿童：92名男孩（56.8%）和70名女孩（43.2%）。他们的平均年龄为10.5岁±3.5岁（范围：3个月至15岁）。总体而言，38名（23.5%）仅失去了母亲，22名（13.6%）失去了父亲，102名（63%）父母双亡。孩子由家庭安置在孤儿院的有97例（60%），由社会服务部门安置的有50例（30.9%），由警察或红十字会安置的有15例（9.3%）。安置的原因有：缺乏经济支持（137例，84.5%），其他社会原因（8例，4.9%），遗弃（3例，2%）和不明原因（14例，8.6%）。父母死亡的主要原因有：怀孕和分娩73例（45%），战争45例（28%），艾滋病毒感染26例（16%），疟疾6例（4%），事故8例（5%），不明原因4例（2.5%）。
孤儿院是无法得到父母照料的儿童生存的一种选择。对它们予以关注、支持其活动并改善那里的生活条件都很重要。
