Psychosocial health concerns among service-seeking orphans in the slums of Kampala

Orphans have many unmet needs. The purpose of the current study is to briefly examine the psychosocial correlates linked to being an orphan among service-seeking youth in the slums of Kampala in order to provide guidance for service provision for youth. The current analysis is based on a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2011 which consisted of a convenience sample of youth living in the slums (ages 14–24 years) attending a drop-in center, Uganda Youth Development Link. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to determine psychosocial correlates with being an orphan. Among the youth participants (N = 444), 23.65% (n = 105) reported both of their parents died, 37.39% (n = 166) reported one parent died, and the remaining 38.96% (n = 173) reported both of their parents are living. In the multivariable model, reporting both parents dead was significantly associated with being a female (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27, 6.12) and parental abuse (AOR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.27). A large percentage of youth living in the slums of Kampala are orphans. This study presents important findings that inform interventions and policies that can be targeted toward the dire needs of youth living in the streets and slums of Kampala.