Suchergebnisse

The phenomenon of care-leavers' experience of aftercare in Ethiopia has not yet been recognized. A qualitative research design was used to uncover female care-leavers' experience of aftercare in 2017. Participants in the study were recruited via a snowball sampling technique, and data were collected through in-depth interviews and a review of documents. The generated data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study found that participants are faced with different adversities, such as job searching, homelessness, the inability to pay housing rent, being betrayed, and not reconnecting with living biological family members. Female care-leavers have expected to receive support from the institution to cope with aftercare challenges. However, their aftercare experience is characterized by negative outcomes, which implies that they need continued aftercare support until they can find their feet. Female care-leavers view aftercare support as strengthening them in their attempt to navigate the adult world on their own. Such support offers them the opportunity to find attractive jobs and so save them from having to emigrate. This article sheds light on the issue of aftercare support for female emerging adults who are transitioning from care to adulthood in Ethiopia.

International research consistently shows that young care leavers' journey from care to emerging adulthood is characterised by adversities such as unemployment, poor academic performance, homelessness, involvement in criminal activities, mental illness and early parenthood. As research evidence points out, such negative outcomes are closely linked with the existence of multiple placements, lack of mentoring, limited connections with significant others, the absence of early preparation to leave care, and a dearth of or inadequate policy frameworks that entitle care leavers to use aftercare support schemes. In order to support care leavers' transition from care to emerging adulthood, Global North countries have implemented an independent care leaving policy framework that serves as a scaffolding for challenges that would arise from care leavers' exploration of the adult world upon leaving care. However, such experience in formulation of policy to empower care leavers to be an independent adult is not well developed in countries in Global South due to the infant nature of research on care leaving and a preference for addressing the issues of care leavers in the existing child policy frameworks rather than formulating a special policy that deals with care leaving. The status of Ethiopia in this regard is not different. Existing policy frameworks concerning children have failed to address the needs of Ethiopian care leavers despite the existence of over five million orphan and vulnerable children in the country most of whom are placed in institutional childcare centres. This article presents the case for an independent care leaving policy in Ethiopia to address the multifaceted needs of children in care and improve the care leaving service in the country. Thus, the study will shed light on the state of care leaving policy in the world and lessons for Ethiopia to support Ethiopia's attempt to serve the most vulnerable children in care by developing its own care leaving policy.

Purpose
Research on caregivers' experiences of and perspectives on preparing young people to leave care in Africa is lacking. A clearer understanding of caregivers' practice and experience is important for developing improved care-leaving services. The aim of this study is to describe the experiences and perceptions of caregivers providing care-leaving services at one residential care institution in Addis Abba, Ethiopia.


Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative description research design was used to examine the perspectives of seven caregivers and three key informants concerning the preparation of female care-leavers for leaving care and their readiness to lead an adult life in Ethiopia. Participants were purposively selected and data were collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The generated data were analysed using thematic analysis.


Findings
Caregivers are passionate about their work, seeing it more as a calling than as a job, and think of themselves as parents to the children. Most reported receiving at least some training, albeit informal or ad hoc, and faced challenges because of lack of resources. Regarding their preparation of the girls for leaving care, caregivers reported inadequate success in financial literacy and savings, continued schooling, cooking, cultural literacy and aftercare support.


Originality/value
This study thus underscores the absence of a preparation for leaving care practice guideline and an independent policy that guides care-leaving in Ethiopia. Policy improvement on caregiving that recognises and values the complexity of the job of caregiving, and thus the need for greater education, is highly needed. This paper sheds light on the issue of supporting caregivers' attempt to mentor female care-leavers in Ethiopia.

Abstract
Affecting all aspects of patients' lives, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) presents significant challenges. Individuals with ESRD face biological, psychological, economic, and social issues. ESRD patients in Ethiopia bear multifaceted burdens of multiple medical conditions, including comorbid hypertension, diabetes, cardiac problems, anemia, gastrointestinal issues, and bone and mineral disorders. The aim of this study was to address the gap in research on patients in Ethiopia with ESRD and examine biopsychosocial and economic challenges. A qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology design was employed. In-depth interviews were held with 10 women and 10 men. Major themes include the physical corollary of ESRD (e.g., fatigue), and psychological (e.g., fear of loss of capacity and/or occupation) and socioeconomic challenges (e.g., difficulty obtaining social and economic support). Along with complications of ESRD and side effects of dialysis, patients face trauma and social and economic repercussions. Social workers are well positioned to help manage associated biopsychosocial and economic challenges. The findings indicate the need for policies that promote multidisciplinary teams in working with patients who are diagnosed with ESRD.