Education among orphans and non-orphans in an urban area of Burkina Faso

Abstract

Africa has long dealt with issues surrounding orphanhood and the fostering of children whose parents are no longer alive or available. With the increasing impact of HIV reflected demographically throughout the world, the sociodemographic situation of orphans in sub-Saharan Africa has only grown in visibility and importance. This paper compares orphans and non-orphans living in an urban area of Burkina Faso (Bobo-Dioulasso), with a special focus on school enrolment and delay. We found in univariate analysis that orphans and non‐orphans are equally likely to be enrolled in school, but orphans are more likely to be delayed. Once controlling for sociodemographic differences, however, orphans are not delayed significantly in school when compared with non-orphans. Results suggest that, while orphans may be at educational risk due to other concomitant sociodemographic factors, in this urban area orphan status alone does not significantly predict educational enrolment and short-term outcome.