1. IN BETWEEN THE CRACKS: Contextualizing Child Abandonment in Somaliland 2000-2017
Author Nouradin H Nour

2. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:
This research aims to understand the root causes of child abandonment as well as providing correct statistical entries on rates of growth while offering opportunities for counteractions in terms of policy, health, management and regulations of child care as well as generating knowledge and instigating academic awareness on child abandonment and foundling cases in Somaliland.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
A sequential, exploratory mixed methods design was used.
Study all child abandonment cases across 17 years (157 Cases)
Select 60 Case Studies from the above and apply rigorous investigation.
Interview with 14 Key Informants and 6 Case Reporters (witnesses)

3. RESEARCH FINDINGS:
Lower adoption rates for males: 21.7% Males 78.3% Females
The majority of abandoned infants were between the ages of days old.
Halved child abandonment in relations to population growth ( )
17.8% Mortality rate from 157 abandonment cases
Major causes as per interviews was illegitimacy of the child