Question

Which of the following is a finding from the positive outcomes for orphans (POFO) study:

	A) The orphans and abandoned children (OAC) who live in institutions have significantly bigger head circumferences (a marker of appropriate child development) compared with OAC who live in community-based settings.
	B) Institutions that are providing care for OAC vary in their size and length of existence.
	C) The OAC who live in community-based setting have significantly higher BMI for age z-scores, a marker of nutritional adequacy, compared with OAC who live in institutional settings.
	D) All of the above are findings from the POFO study.
	E) None of the above is a finding from the POFO study.

Answer 1

Answer D. All the above are findings from the POFO study.

Explanation Positive Outcomes for Orphans (POFO) is a longitudinal study which experiences tracking of 3,000 orphans and separated children (OSC) and their caregivers in five low and middle-income countries in multi-countries. The primary focus of this longitudinal POFO research of children starting ages 6 to 12 is to examine the influence of life events, placement, caregiver characteristics and cultural setting on the children's: i. e. the behavioral and emotional adjustment, learning and development and health outcomes.

A. The orphans and abandoned children (OAC) who live in institutions have significantly bigger head circumferences (a marker of appropriate child development) compared with OAC who live in community-based settings.

POFO study examines the relationship between psychosocial well-being and cognitive development in a cohort of orphans and abandoned children (OAC) relative to non-OAC in five low and middle income countries. Hence option A is a positive outcome of POFO study.

B. Institutions that are providing care for OAC vary in their size and length of existence.

Health, emotional and cognitive functioning and physical growth were no worse for institution-living than community-living OAC, and generally better than for community-living OAC cared for by persons other than a biological parent. hence the option B is a positive outcome of POFO study.

C. The OAC who live in community-based setting have significantly higher BMI for age z-scores, a marker of nutritional adequacy, compared with OAC who live in institutional settings.

According to POFO study, the overweight and obesity were significantly higher while underweight and thinness/wasting were significantly lower relative to the WHO reference.

Hence option A, B, and C are correct.