Effects of Family Breakdown on Children: The Case of Shedder Refugee Camp Fafan Zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate effects of family breakdown on children at Shedder Refugee Camp Fafan Zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. The study focused particularly on the children whose family had experienced divorce/separation in the Shedder Refugee Camp. Descriptive and exploratory research designs and qualitative approach were used. The methods employed to collect data were an in-depth interview, key informant interviews and document analysis. The study sample was consisted of fifteen family member participants from divorced /separated families and five key informants comprised of administration of refugee, community and religious leaders. Data were analyzed thematically and presented in the form of description. Purposive sampling method was used to participate the participants. The findings of the study revealed that the effects of divorce/separation on children regardless of sex had economic, social, psychological and academic problem. Divorce/separation also had internal behavioral effect on female children and external behavioral effect on male children. Concerning, the handling of the problem, the study pinpointed the importance of involvement in relative, social group, governmental and non- governmental and host community in diverse interventions to rehabilitate the children that were affected by family divorce / separation in the study area.