Fertility and Family Formation Expectations of Former Street Children in Kenya

Danielle Rhubart, Pennsylvania State University

In the past decade, a significant amount of literature has emerged that discusses the growing number of vulnerable children in cities around the world, most notably that of the burgeoning populations of street children. However, minimal research has considered the long term outcomes of street children including their fertility and family formation expectations. Doing so will be imperative to understanding future population characteristics and needs. Using the preliminary analysis of qualitative interviews conducted in Kenya, this study examines the fertility expectations of a sample of former street children who are now adults and beneficiaries of a reentry program developed by the government to promote skill building and job readiness. This research will examine if and how this sample differs in regard to fertility expectations from their mothers and a control group of former street children who did not go through a reentry program.