CARE AND SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR ADOLESCENT ORPHANS IN YENAGOA CITY, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

The number of orphans is steadily increasing globally, with over 140 million children between the ages of 0 and 17 orphaned worldwide. However, the level of care and social support for these groups of persons have largely been ignored by studies in recent times. It is on this note that this study has been designed to investigate the care and social support of adolescent orphans in Nigeria, using Yenagoa City in Bayelsa State as a case study. The theoretical framework of this study is rooted in the stress-buffering hypothesis of Cohen and McKay (1984). This cross-sectional survey sampled 120 adolescent orphans found in orphanage homes in Yengoa City through a respondent driven sampling technique. Data for the study were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire, while data analysis was done using descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequency distribution tables charts, and chi-square cross-tabulation. Findings from the study revealed that adolescent orphans were not satisfied with the care provided by the caregivers, as most of them come late for duties, especially the nurses. Also, the services that caregivers are supposed to provide most times are hardly rendered according to a significant number of adolescent caregivers. Additionally, Non-governmental organisations are the major organisation providing social support for orphans in the city. The study also concluded that the major form of social support orphans receive is instrumental support which includes; money, food items, clothes, etc. Finally, factors associated with receiving social support include; the age group of the respondents (x2= 6.720; P<0.05), ethnicity (x2= 13.349; P<0.05), and age at the entrance into orphanage homes (x2= 6.720; P<0.05). The study, therefore, recommended that there is the need for government involvement in the care and support of its vulnerable population.