Child abandonment has a substantial effect for both the child and the parents. Studies on parents who abandon their children are unavailable as they are hard to reach individuals, particularly when the abandoning is in public. This study, therefore, explored the lived experiences of mothers/fathers who abandoned their children in public. In this study qualitative approach with case study design was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposefully selected seven mothers/fathers whose children are living in Bridge of Hope Orphanage Centre in Gondar city. Existing documents were used to recruit respondents and to illicit additional data. Guided by descriptive phenomenological design, thematic content analysis was employed. In the present study, three core themes emerged: parents’ conditions before child delivery, parents’ life experiences of child abandoning, and parents’ psychosocial conditions until rejoining. Contextual factors before and after the child is born (e.g. challenging life situation, unwanted pregnancy, rape, peer pressure, stigma) played important roles in later child abandonment. Economic hardships, exacerbated by sociocultural factors pushed parents to abandon their children. Child abandonment is a process that includes contemplation, state of indecision, preparations and taking actions. Psychological sufferings were prevalent not only before but also after rejoining. Based on the results of the study, it is concluded that child abandonment and rejoining are complex and lengthy processes that induced significant psychosocial burden on parents. Therefore, it is imperative to employ preventive measures including community awareness creation campaigns about child abandonment.

Authors:
Yassin Mohammed Yesuf, University of Gondar, Ethiopia
Adonawit Ayalew Bewketu, Bridge of Hope Orphanage Centre, Ethiopia

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Yassin Mohammed Yesuf is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at University of Gondar in Ethiopia

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