Background: children in orphan institution suffered from many health problems. Aim of the study:
was assessing health problems among orphan children in Dakahlia Governorate. Subjects &
methods: Research design: Exploratory descriptive study. Setting: This study was carried out in five
shelters at Dakahlia Governorate. Subjects: Convenient sample constituted of all children. Subjects
interviewed were 194 children: 139 boys and 55 girls. Tools of data collection: Data collection
comprised an interview questionnaire sheet, for the children concerning socio demographic for child
and nurse, child health problems through measurement sheet to (assess physical data and sheet for
analysis of child health record, physical, psychological/emotional and social problems), observation
check list to assess the shelter environmental conditions and observation check list to assess the
shelter health clinic. Results: revealed that Health problems among orphan shelters were significantly
higher, including many diseases. 49.4% were sensitive eye, 22.1% ear, 44.9% mouth and teeth,
60.9% were upper respiratory tract, 70.2% were gastrointestinal tract, 57.2% urinary tract, 40% central
nervous system and 49.5% nutritional problems. The best of these shelters in the delivery of health
care was Fager-Eleslam, followed by Dar-Ebnty; and the shelter was not good was Mossiest
Trbytelbaneen- Eleslamia, Mansoura, where boys suffered from many disease along with very low
level of health care. Conclusion: The study concluded that 75% in Dakahlia shelters are males. Half
of the children inside shelters were in primary schools, and more than one third of them were in
secondary schools, 8.2% of them didn't not complete the stages of education and the rest were in
preparatory schools. Nearly one third; (31.4%) of the children were worked to satisfy their needs, most
of them were from boy's shelters in Mansura. Recommendations: Health care services and nursing
role should be developed for orphan children to avoid health problems.