Responses to the question why mothers, or parents in general, abandon their children vary: economic reasons/lack of resources coupled with unwanted pregnancy were given by Getenesh, and Konjit; and marital instability or conflict, combined with economic problems, was reported by Mistere. Although marriage does not provide a guarantee against child abandonment, family breakdown appears to have adverse effects on mothers and serves as an impetus for child abandonment. Similarly, early and unwanted pregnancy was identified by Frewoin. This means that the child was abandoned because of fear of the stigma attached to the state of unmarried motherhood in the community. Unwanted pregnancy and poverty seem to be the responsible factors for abandoning her child in the case of Sara. It seems that if resources were available, most of the parents would not be forced to abandon their children. As reported by abandoners, the action is not performed deliberately, but due to compelling circum- stances. The mothers that I interviewed cried or had tears welling up in their eyes. Hence, if economic resources were available, common sense suggests that parents would not like to desert their children. For instance, Konjit appeared to have tried to survive with her child but became exhausted in poverty. Three months later she aban- doned her child in a pit latrine.