Adult Perceptions of Child Adjustment in Institutional versus Family Care in Ghana

Research on institutional child care consistently has documented detrimental developmental outcomes. However, recent work in Ghana revealed a range in patterns of adjustment among children living in institutional care. The developmental patterns of children living in institutional care often were not significantly different from patterns seen among children living in families. A grounded-theory approach was used to understand Ghanaian adults’ perceptions of adjustment of children living in both institutional care and with families, and their beliefs about contributions to positive functioning. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 caregivers, social workers, and teachers recruited from the Accra region in Ghana. Thematic analysis of responses was used to identify common themes described in the interviews. Interviews with participants revealed beliefs that children may struggle in one or more areas while still having strengths. Having basic needs met, a stable home, and a high level of adult support were the most common factors believed to contribute to positive functioning in both groups of children. Future studies or interventions targeting these areas will likely gain buy-in from stakeholders.