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Prevalence, incidence and chronicity of child abuse among orphaned, separated, and street-connected children and adolescents in western Kenya: What is the impact of care environment?
- Source :
-
Child abuse & neglect [Child Abuse Negl] 2023 May; Vol. 139, pp. 104920. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jan 21. - Publication Year :
- 2023
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Abstract
- Background: The effect of different types of care environment on orphaned and separated children and adolescents' (OSCA) experiences of abuse in sub-Saharan Africa is uncertain.<br />Objective: Our two primary objectives were 1) to compare recent child abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) between OSCA living in institutional environments and those in family-based care; and 2) to understand how recent child abuse among street-connected children and youth compared to these other vulnerable youth populations.<br />Participants and Setting: This project followed a cohort of OSCA in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya (2009-2019). This analysis includes 2393 participants aged 18 years and below, 1017 from institutional environments, 1227 from family-based care, and 95 street-connected participants.<br />Methods: The primary outcome of interest was recent abuse. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of recent abuse at baseline, follow-up, and chronically for each abuse domain and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) between care environments, controlling for multiple factors.<br />Results: In total, 47 % of OSCA reported ever experiencing any kind of recent abuse at baseline and 54 % in follow-up. Compared to those in family-based care, street-connected participants had a much higher reported prevalence of all types of recent abuse at baseline (AOR: 5.01, 95 % CI: 2.89, 9.35), in follow-up (AOR: 5.22, 95 % CI: 2.41, 13.98), and over time (AOR: 3.44, 95 % CI: 1.93, 6.45). OSCA in institutional care were no more likely than those in family-based care of reporting any recent abuse at baseline (AOR: 0.85 95 % CI: 0.59-1.17) or incident abuse at follow-up (AOR: 0.91, 95 % CI: 0.61-1.47).<br />Conclusion: OSCA, irrespective of care environment, reported high levels of recent physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Street-connected participants had the highest prevalence of all kinds of abuse. OSCA living in institutional care did not experience more child abuse than those living in family-based care.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-7757
- Volume :
- 139
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Child abuse & neglect
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33485648
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104920