Research on nutrition and healthcare of Children
The deteriorated economic conditions in Haiti have a far reaching effect on basic expenditure by families. The condition is far worse for Child Domestic Worker (CDW) families living in rural areas in comparison to other families living in such areas. While around 12.30 percent of all households in rural areas cut down on expenditure on health care and medicines, around 13 percent of CDW families have to make a similar cut in their expenditure. Similarly, poor economic conditions lead to reduced food consumption for household members. In rural areas, 11.9 percent of families had to make such reduction in food consumption as opposed to 12.8 percent of CDW families.
In urban areas, the situation is slightly better. The reduced amount spent on medicines and health care was 7.4 percent for all households and the reduced food consumption for family members was 7 percent. This data was collected in 2013-14. The economic circumstances also lead to reduced or end support to family members outside the household, adults looking for additional jobs and delay in children’s enrollment in school.
Restavek
In Haiti, many poor rural families hoping to provide a better future for their children send them to live as domestic servants in the homes of urban / semi-urban families. These children, mostly girls are extremely vulnerable to emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. These children are known as Restavek.
Data Source
Haiti Now relied on data obtained from FAFO Research Foundation and the Institut Haitian del’ Enfance. The data was collected in 2013 - 2014.
Haiti Now has published this data online in an interactive manner. Click here to review this data in more detail, and to see other dimensions of the living conditions of Restavek in Haiti.
Another Option for Abandoned Girls in Domestic Servitude
Haiti Now ‘s mission is to give Restavek girls the ability to:
- leave domestic servitude, and
- prepare for the future they and their parents hoped for.
Our current goal is to build a residential school for Restavek girls . We intend to provide the support needed for these girls to build a healthy and financially secure future, all under one roof.
In this residential school, girls will receive:
- an accelerated education,
- health care,
- emotional support,
- mentoring,
- arts and sports, and
- healthy socialization with peers and adults.
Envision the opportunity for these girls reaching their potential at our residential school, and join us to build this facility.
Please support us at https://www.haiti-now.org/donate/