The Push and Pull Factors of Placing Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Orphanages in Pakistan

Abstract

Worldwide, 2.9 million of children have been placed in
residential care either by their parents or guardians and relatives.
However, placing the orphans and vulnerable children in residential
care facilities is increasing overwhelmingly. For Pakistan, the
situation is not bizarre as we too have placed 0.5 million out of 4.2
million orphans in residential care facilities. The aim of this study is
to explore the push and pull factors that have compelled parents
and guardians of orphans and vulnerable children to place them in
residential care facilities. The study is based on document analysis
i.e. research papers, books, and research theses. The data reveals
that the death of parents, erosion of the joint and extended family
system, natural and made-made disasters, stigmatization of
illegitimate and disabled children, poverty and unemployment of the
biological parents, efficacy of the residential care, and the presence
of qualified and well- trained residential care providers have
compelled hundreds of thousands parents and guardians to place
orphans and vulnerable children in residential care facilities in
Pakistan. This study suggests that the government of Pakistan
should take serious measures to provide the OVC with basic
necessities of life in form of home care model as alongside the
negative consequences the residential care model is six times more
expensive than the ordinary family based care model.