Abstract
Background: Children heading households after parental loss may face emotional and material burdens, but direct accounts from these children are limited. Objective: To describe psychological outcomes among child household heads affected by HIV and AIDS in Seme Sub-County, Kenya. Methods: The source study used a descriptive survey with purposive selection from a stated population of 200 child-headed households. Of 133 selected household heads, 124 participated (93.2%). Respondents were aged 14-17 years. Questionnaires included measures of anxiety, self-esteem and depressive symptoms; key informant interviews supplied contextual accounts. Results: The reported mean item scores were 2.68 for anxiety and 2.34 for self-esteem (n = 124). Using the source manuscript's Zung categories, 64 respondents (51.6%) fell in its depressive-symptom range, while 60 (48.4%) fell below it. Most respondents, 112 (90.3%), reported no employment. Conclusions: The findings indicate a need for accessible psychosocial and material support. The cross-sectional, purposive design and incomplete scale reporting limit clinical interpretation and causal claims. The source does not provide quantitative estimates connecting psychological scores to household or school performance.
Publication details
Article URL: https://www.nijamss.org/articles/nijamss-v1s2-aug2026-033/
Full-text PDF: https://www.nijamss.org/articles/nijamss-v1s2-aug2026-033/full-text.pdf
References
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Citation
Ochieng Nyangute Dismas; Dr. Daniel Atuke Otwori. Psychological Distress among Children Heading Households Affected by HIV and AIDS in Seme Sub-County, Kenya. Nexus International Journal of Applied Science, Medicine and Social Sciences, Vol. 1, Issue 2, August 2026.