Orphanhood and Completion of Compulsory School Education Among Young People in South Africa: Findings From a National Representative Survey

Title
Orphanhood and Completion of Compulsory School Education Among Young People in South Africa: Findings From a National Representative Survey
Publication Date
2008
Author(s)
Operario, Don
Cluver, Lucie
Rees, Helen
MacPhail, Catherine
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0614-0157
Email: cmacphai@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:cmacphai
Pettifor, Audrey
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1111/j.1532-7795.2008.00555.x
UNE publication id
une:15814
Abstract
We examined the association of orphanhood and completion of compulsory school education among young people in South Africa. In South Africa, school attendance is compulsory through grade 9, which should be completed before age 16. However, family and social factors such as orphanhood and poverty can hinder educational attainment. Participants were 10,452 16–24-year-olds who completed a South African national representative household survey. Overall, 23% had not completed compulsory school levels. In univariate analyses, school completion was lower among those who had experienced orphanhood during school-age years, males, and those who reported household poverty. In multivariate analyses controlling for household poverty, females who had experienced maternal or paternal orphanhood were less likely to have completed school; orphanhood was not independently associated with males' school completion. Findings highlight the need for evidence-informed policies to address the education and social welfare needs of orphans and vulnerable youth, particularly females, in South Africa.
Link
Citation
Journal of Research on Adolescence, 18(1), p. 173-186
ISSN
1050-8392
1532-7795
Start page
173
End page
186

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