Lived Experiences of Adolescent Orphans in Residential Care Homes in Ghana

The study aimed to gain insight into the lived experiences of adolescent orphans in residential care homes in Ghana, with the goal of informing orphan care policy, practices, and clinical interventions. A qualitative approach, specifically phenomenological design, was adopted. With the aid of a semi-structured interview guide, data were gathered from 30 participants from four residential homes in Ghana. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) of the data revealed shared experiences of growth-enablers and trauma-enablers. Growth-enablers fostered social, physical and psychological growth, including livelihood skills, moral virtues, leadership skills, educational opportunities and access to material and social support. In contrast, trauma-enablers describe adversarial situations experienced by orphans in Residential Care Homes (RCHs), such as abusive experiences, resource deprivation, and disconnection from biological relatives. Findings underscore the complex duality of institutional care, highlighting both its potential to foster growth and expose adolescents to psychological and emotional distress. Furthermore, the adolescent’s agency in actively making sense of their care environment is highlighted. Policies and interventions targeted at strengthening family connection, resource distribution and periodic caregiver training can mitigate trauma-related care practices while fostering psychological resilience in residential care homes.