The phenomenon is not unique to one sex 55.3% in boys and 54.2% girls, neither it is for the place of residence, but the tendency to keep the children with both parents is higher in rural areas (57.8% against 52, 8% in urban areas). All departments are around the national average except for Lékoumou, Brazzaville and Sangha whose rates are the lowest (50.0% to 50.4%). However the Plateaux Department keeps more children with both parents (64.6%). The level of household wealth has little effect on the social behaviour: the richest record rates below those of the poorest (55.4 and 55.7 in the fourth and fifth quintile against 59.9% for the poorest quintile). In any case, it is established that Congolese families are unable to ensure a living environment in a matrimonial home to all their children (even the small ones). Yet the impact of the partial or total orphan status is only 5.3% for children aged 15 years and 6.7% for children under 18 years. The high percentages of children under 15 years (12.6%) and children under 18 (15.0%) who do not live with any biological parent certainly, confirm this laudable social behaviour, but may involve inadequate care or attention for emotional or psychological development of toddlers. Children aged below 18 years living with non- biological parents is a common phenomenon in Congolese society, which certainly constitutes a positive social value but entails risks. It should be noted that 4 out of 10 children live outside of a small family environment organised around the two biological parents: 42.3% for children aged below 15 and 45.3% for children aged below 18 years. This category of children living outside a family setting of both biological parents includes: • Children living only with their mother: 22.6% of children under 15 of which 2.2 are orphans and 22.5% of children aged below 18 years of which 2.6% are orphans; • Children living only with their father 6.9% aged below 15 years of which 0.8% are orphans; 7.3% aged below 18 years of which 0.8% are orphans; • Children living with neither parent: 12.5% of children aged below of 15 which 2.2% are orphans; 15.1% aged below 18 years of which 3.3% are orphans. Congolese custom is very favourable to the care of the child by a large number of people. In law, sections 320 and 321 of the Family Code place an obligation on the parents to care and raise their children until their majority or emancipation through marriage. The child is under their authority and that authority requires ensuring the custody of the child, especially to provide for his/her housing, provide for his/her education and upbringing. The economic situation of many Congolese households characterised by an advanced state of destitution and poverty forces parents to practice mutual assistance by the redistribution of the family burden care or by fostering one or two children to more affluent relatives. This well established social practice explains this high rate phenomenon of children living without their two biological parents. Separation from the parent is seen as a normal that lawyers liken to alternative care. 43