Gender and Cultural impact on the Adolescence: Challenges in Serving the Girl Child in an OVC Program

Background:  The number of vulnerable children in West Africa keeps increasing due to a number of reasons and factors. Local and international organizations that support these children need to recognize challenges that prevent equal treatment due their gender.

Objective: To examine factors affecting vulnerable girls aged 10-17 year from receiving comparable service to boys. Compare community perception of girls and boys, the gender roles and impact to the service.  

Methods: The study used data from a mixed methods study that examined the gender difference in an OVC program in Côte d'Ivoire. The study examined data from structured interviews and focus groups used to identify cultural, economic and societal factors that could be associated with access to services for the girls aged 10-17 in those communities.  

Results:  A number of communities defined adolescent girls (12-14 years) as women or if they became pregnant. Many key informants complained about adolescent girls forced or early marriage. The traditional expectation for the girl child stay close to home defines their lives “stay at home with her mother to learn to how to cook, to clean” and lack access to services they need.   

Conclusions: The adolescent years for West African girl child may increase their chance of not receiving support and care compared to boys of similar age. Negative cultural norms can impact OVC program reach and service to adolescent girls.