Abstract:
The number of AIDS orphans in the world has increased steadily over the years
making it difficult for relatives to cater for them adequately. The stigma associated
with HIV/ AIDS makes orphaned students face many challenges that may pre-dispose
them to low self-esteem. This study was meant to determine how being orphaned
affects the self-esteem of students at the secondary school level in upper Nyakach
Division of Nyakach District, Kisumu County, Kenya. Aids orphans undergo many
challenges due to the stigma associated with the disease which may predispose them
to low self-esteem. The study used a descriptive survey research design with an ex
post facto approach. The study population comprised seventeen schools in upper
Nyakach Division of Nyakach District in Kisumu County. Schools were stratified into
Boys’ County school, Girls’ County school, Girls’ District school and Mixed District
schools. Out of these random sampling was used to select one County Boys’ school,
one County Girls’ school, One District Girls’ school and nine District Mixed schools.
Purposive sampling was used to identify the orphans in each school setting, out of
which 246 respondents were randomly selected comprising 234 students and 12 heads
of departments of guidance and counselling. Data was collected using a student’s
questionnaire, a self-esteem scale and interview schedules for heads of departments
for guidance and counselling. The face validity of the instruments was ascertained by
getting advice from experts and incorporating the suggestions given. Reliability was
established by conducting a pilot study in a school in lower Nyakach Division using
Chronbach’s alpha coefficient. A coefficient of 0.72 was obtained and accepted for
the study. Data collected from the field were analysed with the aid of Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Data was analysed by use of descriptive
statistics. The study findings indicated that orphaned students generally have average
or low self-esteem with boys being more predisposed to low self-esteem than girls.
The study recommends that guidance and counselling should be strengthened in
secondary schools with more emphasis on boys’ schools. The results of this study
may be used to recommend to the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders the
need to enhance guidance and counselling services in secondary schools with
vulnerable student populations.
