Factors Conveying Resilience in the Context of Urban Poverty: The Case of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in the Informal Settlements of Nairobi, Kenya

Background: This paper aims to extend the knowledge of the psychosocial impact of orphanhood through a detailed description of child welfare outcomes; explore the relationship between child‐, household‐ and neighbourhood‐level characteristics and child welfare outcomes; and suggest potential points of intervention to support orphans and vulnerable children. Methods: Two indices of psychosocial welfare were developed: emotional well‐being and perceived care. Multilevel regression models were applied to identify the sources of variability in these outcomes. Results: Vulnerability was associated more with poverty and neighbourhood characteristics, than with orphanhood. Conclusion: Targeted support for orphans should take into account the loss incurred, the age and gender of the child, and the characteristics of the community in which the child lives.