Depression Effects Among Vulnerable Children

The aim of the study was to explore the depression effects of orphan and vulnerable children. To achieve its objectives, the study utilized a qualitative method to gather relevant, direct and rich information from participants. The study was conducted in the two orphanage organizations of Hosanna Town, Ethiopia. The study covered interviews with 24 key informants, four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 42 orphan children. The participants were selected using purposive sampling technique. The collected data was analyzed thematically. From the results of the study, the majority of the respondents indicated that orphan children those who were living in the institutions are more vulnerable to depression. Likewise, the majority of the respondents indicated that a higher depression and a lower self-esteem symptom have been seen in many children. Most children lost hope when it became clear that their parents were sick. They also felt sad and helpless. Many were angry and depressed in their life functioning. Thus, the organizations have to work on providing appropriate psychosocial support, education, developmentally appropriate care and providing skills training and counseling programs.