Makufa Syloid Choice, Kisyombe Daisy, Miller Nicole, Barkey Nanette
a Pact , Mbabane , Swaziland.
b Pact , Washington , DC , USA.
Afr J AIDS Res. 2017 Dec;16(4):355-363. doi: 10.2989/16085906.2017.1387579.
This paper reports on the health and psychosocial impacts of a programme designed to economically empower female caregivers of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The results presented are from a cohort of 492 female caregivers who participated in savings groups and were responsible for 887 OVC. The data showed that the caregivers had increased earnings, borrowed more, repaid their loans, and expanded their businesses. Important health impacts were found for both the caregivers and the OVC. Access to health care increased and the proportion of OVC and caregivers who reported being too ill to take part in daily activities decreased. Results showed that WORTH savings group members increased their financial resources and used them to improve the wellbeing of OVC in their care. The economic and social empowerment had a positive impact on child protection, child wellbeing and health.
本文报告了一项旨在增强孤儿和弱势儿童（OVC）女性照料者经济权能的项目对健康和心理社会的影响。呈现的结果来自492名参与储蓄小组并负责照料887名OVC的女性照料者群体。数据显示，照料者的收入增加，借款增多，偿还了贷款，并扩大了业务。研究发现该项目对照料者和OVC的健康均产生了重要影响。获得医疗保健的机会增加，报告因病太重而无法参与日常活动的OVC和照料者比例下降。结果表明，WORTH储蓄小组成员增加了其财务资源，并将其用于改善他们所照料的OVC的福祉。经济和社会赋权对儿童保护、儿童福祉和健康产生了积极影响。
