Exploring multifaceted impacts of El Niño driven drought on child-headed rural learners' well-being in drought-prone Chivi, Zimbabwe

The El Niño phenomenon has led to an increased frequency and intensity of droughts, posing significant challenges for rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. This qualitative case study examines the multifaceted impacts of El Niño-driven drought on the wellbeing of child-headed households and their...

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Main Authors: Munyaradzi Chidarikire, Munyaradzi Saruchera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: ERRCD Forum 2024-10-01
Series:Interdisciplinary Journal of Rural and Community Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pubs.ufs.ac.za/index.php/ijrcs/article/view/1370
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author Munyaradzi Chidarikire
Munyaradzi Saruchera
author_facet Munyaradzi Chidarikire
Munyaradzi Saruchera
author_sort Munyaradzi Chidarikire
collection DOAJ
description The El Niño phenomenon has led to an increased frequency and intensity of droughts, posing significant challenges for rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. This qualitative case study examines the multifaceted impacts of El Niño-driven drought on the wellbeing of child-headed households and their educational outcomes in the drought-prone Chivi district of Zimbabwe. The current study aimed to understand how El Niño-induced drought affects the physical, emotional, and socioeconomic wellbeing of child-headed rural learners and how these impacts influence their educational experiences and outcomes. The central research question is: How do El Niño-driven droughts affect the wellbeing and educational trajectories of child-headed households in the Chivi district of Zimbabwe? This study adopted a qualitative research paradigm and a case study design. Fifteen participants were selected using purposive sampling, including young learners from child-headed households and adult community members. Data were collected through two focus group discussions, one with the young learners and another with the adult participants. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that El Niño-driven droughts exacerbate the vulnerabilities of child-headed households, leading to food insecurity, water scarcity, increased household responsibilities, and mental health challenges. These factors significantly undermine the learners' ability to engage in and succeed in their educational pursuits. The study recommends the implementation of targeted interventions, such as school-based feeding programmes and psychosocial support, to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought on child-headed rural learners.
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spelling doaj-art-abf410080b044f69b82c6df2533a72642025-01-08T19:05:02ZengERRCD ForumInterdisciplinary Journal of Rural and Community Studies2710-25722024-10-01611310.38140/ijrcs-2024.vol6.171334Exploring multifaceted impacts of El Niño driven drought on child-headed rural learners' well-being in drought-prone Chivi, ZimbabweMunyaradzi Chidarikire0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3507-8329Munyaradzi Saruchera1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4345-1293Stellenbosch University, South AfricaStellenbosch University, South AfricaThe El Niño phenomenon has led to an increased frequency and intensity of droughts, posing significant challenges for rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. This qualitative case study examines the multifaceted impacts of El Niño-driven drought on the wellbeing of child-headed households and their educational outcomes in the drought-prone Chivi district of Zimbabwe. The current study aimed to understand how El Niño-induced drought affects the physical, emotional, and socioeconomic wellbeing of child-headed rural learners and how these impacts influence their educational experiences and outcomes. The central research question is: How do El Niño-driven droughts affect the wellbeing and educational trajectories of child-headed households in the Chivi district of Zimbabwe? This study adopted a qualitative research paradigm and a case study design. Fifteen participants were selected using purposive sampling, including young learners from child-headed households and adult community members. Data were collected through two focus group discussions, one with the young learners and another with the adult participants. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that El Niño-driven droughts exacerbate the vulnerabilities of child-headed households, leading to food insecurity, water scarcity, increased household responsibilities, and mental health challenges. These factors significantly undermine the learners' ability to engage in and succeed in their educational pursuits. The study recommends the implementation of targeted interventions, such as school-based feeding programmes and psychosocial support, to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought on child-headed rural learners.https://pubs.ufs.ac.za/index.php/ijrcs/article/view/1370child-headed householdschividroughtel-niñorural learners wellbeing
spellingShingle Munyaradzi Chidarikire
Munyaradzi Saruchera
Exploring multifaceted impacts of El Niño driven drought on child-headed rural learners' well-being in drought-prone Chivi, Zimbabwe
Interdisciplinary Journal of Rural and Community Studies
child-headed households
chivi
drought
el-niño
rural learners
wellbeing
title Exploring multifaceted impacts of El Niño driven drought on child-headed rural learners' well-being in drought-prone Chivi, Zimbabwe
title_full Exploring multifaceted impacts of El Niño driven drought on child-headed rural learners' well-being in drought-prone Chivi, Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Exploring multifaceted impacts of El Niño driven drought on child-headed rural learners' well-being in drought-prone Chivi, Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Exploring multifaceted impacts of El Niño driven drought on child-headed rural learners' well-being in drought-prone Chivi, Zimbabwe
title_short Exploring multifaceted impacts of El Niño driven drought on child-headed rural learners' well-being in drought-prone Chivi, Zimbabwe
title_sort exploring multifaceted impacts of el nino driven drought on child headed rural learners well being in drought prone chivi zimbabwe
topic child-headed households
chivi
drought
el-niño
rural learners
wellbeing
url https://pubs.ufs.ac.za/index.php/ijrcs/article/view/1370
work_keys_str_mv AT munyaradzichidarikire exploringmultifacetedimpactsofelninodrivendroughtonchildheadedrurallearnerswellbeingindroughtpronechivizimbabwe
AT munyaradzisaruchera exploringmultifacetedimpactsofelninodrivendroughtonchildheadedrurallearnerswellbeingindroughtpronechivizimbabwe