ActionAid International Southern Africa Partnership Programme (SAPP-Zimbabwe) Table 4 summarizes the marital Marital status Proportion (%) status of the study population. Married 57 The majority (57%) of Widowed 19 households are married and 19% Separated 5 are widowed. Only a small Divorced 6 proportion of the households Single/never married 13 are divorced, separated or single (Table 4) (for further information on all areas surveyed please refer to Appendix 6.13). Slight differences were witnessed across the six urban areas (Appendix 6.13). 3.2.1 Vulnerable groups The following section defines various vulnerable groups important in emergency relief programming and used as variables to disaggregate survey data. These groups include; households hosting orphans, households with chronically ill members, female-headed households, elderly-headed households with no productive-age (18 to 60 years) members, and households headed by minors (less than 18 years) commonly referred to as child headed households. Two groups that were unfortunately left out are pregnant and lactating women. 3.2.1.1 Orphans Orphans, for the purpose of the study, are defined as children under 18 years (0 – 17 years) of age who have one or more parents deceased. Orphans have been further classified as those who have one parent deceased and the remaining parent lives in the same household, those who have one parent deceased and the remaining parent lives outside of the same household, and those who have both parents deceased (double orphans). Figure 2: Prevalence of Orphans in sampled areas One child out of every 3 in the study population 30% was an orphan (23,349). 25% Female-headed 20% households bear much of 15% the burden in caring for 10% orphans, with over forty 5% percent (36%) of their households hosting at 0% least one orphan child, while about 22% of male headed households are Area doing the same. It is well documented in Africa that there is a greater probability in women headed households hosting orphans compared to male headed households. This not only creates extra load on women but also limits the amount of time dedicated to other survival needs. Furthermore, in this context where HIV/AIDS orphans are becoming an increasing concern, where the mother is the surviving parent, she should be supported to maintain her children in the household. From Figure 2 above, Harare recorded the largest number of orphans (31%) followed by Bulawayo (25%) and Mutare (23%). The prevalence rate for households hosting orphans was the same (19%) in Kariba, Beitbridge and Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls Beitbridge Kariba Mutare Bulawayo Harare 35% Zimbabwe Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order National Survey Report 11