NORC conducted research to explore more effective processes for the social reintegration of child survivors of commercial sex exploitation in Kenya, as part of its evaluation work under the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery (GFEMS) contract. The study’s findings underscore the importance of improving trauma-informed provision of mental health services for survivors and strengthening public education programs to reshape the way the community views CSEC survivors, recognizing them as children in need of care and protection rather than as criminals. These efforts serve to raise awareness among community members and policymakers about the challenges faced by these children, ultimately contributing to a more effective process of social reintegration for the CSEC survivors.
Kenya grapples with the distressing reality of being a source, transit, and destination for the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). Despite continued efforts by the Kenyan government to eradicate CSEC and other forms of trafficking in persons, the country remains on the U.S. Department of State’s Tier 2 list. The persistent challenges stem from inconsistent prosecution of perpetrators and the absence of robust social safeguards for survivors. In 2020, The Global Fund to End Modern Slavery (GFEMS) launched a series of projects to combat CSEC in coastal Kenya. These projects center on implementing a range of community-based prevention strategies, providing formal education opportunities for young survivors, offering skills training and apprenticeships for older survivors, and enhancing the livelihoods of the most vulnerable families. By specifically targeting recognized sex trafficking hotspots in coastal Kenya, these initiatives seek to address both the scope of this phenomenon and the underlying factors that perpetuate CSEC.
NORC was tasked to lead an independent research study to gather program evaluation data at two distinct junctures: Time 1 (2021) and Time 2 (2022). The study focused on estimating the number of CSEC survivors in Kilifi and Kwale counties of Kenya. Additionally, it assessed whether this package of community interventions led to measurable change in community knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning CSEC in the region.
The study’s findings emphasize the critical need to improve trauma-informed mental health services and bolster public education programs. These initiatives aim to transform the community’s perception of CSEC survivors, recognizing them as vulnerable children in need of care and protection rather than stigmatizing them as criminals. Adopting a trauma-informed approach would play a vital role in raising awareness among community members and policymakers about the substantial challenges confronted by these children, ultimately facilitating a more effective process of social reintegration for CSEC survivors.
Selected Findings
Prevalence Research
There has been a substantial decrease in the overall CSEC prevalence rate in Kenya from 2021 to 2022.
A concerning pattern persists: a substantial percentage of CSEC survivors are likely to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Despite a slight decrease from the previous year, the prevalence of PTSD remains alarmingly high among these victims. Additionally, access to psychosocial support or counseling for CSEC survivors remains limited, with only a very small fraction having received such services.
Community KAP Study
Changes in KAP within program communities indicate a decline in certain social norms and attitudes towards CSEC survivors between baseline and endline. However, the victim-blaming norm still prevails, with over 80 percent of community members believing that CSEC survivors are engaging in immoral behavior, and 90 percent thinking that they should be subject to arrest.
Respondents have shown an improved understanding of the adverse effects of CSEC on survivors’ mental health since baseline. After being exposed to the program, respondents displayed increased awareness of these harmful effects, extending beyond their initial focus on reproductive health problems and disruptions to schooling. Consequently, households are now more inclined to recognize the detrimental impact of CSEC on survivors’ mental health and self-esteem.
With regards to community practices, fewer respondents reported watching for signs that children in their household might be subject to CSEC. Additionally, slightly over 10 percent of respondents said they would not report known CSEC cases in their community. When asked for their reasons, a large proportion felt that it was either not their business to report it or they feared retaliation by the family of the survivor(s). The lack of change in certain aspects of community practices suggests a need to explore alternate program designs that may be more impactful in positively influencing community practices.
Policy Recommendations
Sustain support for CSEC advocacy and awareness initiative: While this evaluation finds a positive relationship between program exposure and KAP outcomes, the reach of the program remained limited. To achieve the critical mass necessary for systemic change, future programs should intensify and broaden community-based advocacy efforts. Specifically, well-designed education and awareness-raising programs for the public on the challenges faced by CSEC survivors may foster greater sensitivity among community members and policymakers, thereby enabling them to become more proactive agents of change for this vulnerable group. Programs should integrate data from this study, including PTSD prevalence rates among survivors, the average initial age of exposure to commercial sexual exploitation (14 among respondents in the study), along with information on the adverse psychosocial effects of CSEC.
Transform community perceptions and social norms towards CSEC survivors: To create a more supportive environment, it is crucial to reshape how the community perceives CSEC survivors. While recognition of the negative effects CSEC has on survivors has improved since baseline, a significant number of community members still hold the mistaken belief that CSEC survivors have the freedom to engage in or exit the sex trade at their discretion. Furthermore, there persists a prevailing view among community members that CSEC survivors are behaving immorally and should be arrested. To align community perspectives with Kenyan law and promote victim protection, continuous efforts are needed to help the community see CSEC survivors as children in need of care and safeguarding, rather than as criminals.
Enhance the provision of trauma-informed mental health services: The elevated prevalence of probable PTSD among CSEC respondents underscores the pressing need for accessible, high-quality mental health services to supplement other basic services for survivors. Despite the presence of governmental and non-governmental organizations offering psychosocial support services locally, it is concerning that a tiny fraction of CSEC survivors have accessed these services, indicating either a low level of awareness or inadequate access (which could be related to the supply of services or social or logistical constraints). Additionally, service providers should take proactive steps to educate caregivers of reintegrated survivors on recognizing and coping with the lingering effects of trauma.
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Suggested Citation
Liu, X., Keaveney, E., & Kysia, K. (2023, September 26). Enhancing Trauma-Informed Support for CSEC Survivors in Kenya. [Web blog post]. Goal: Resilience. Retrieved from https://goalresilience.norc.org.
External Links
Sexual Exploitation of Children in Kenya: Changes in Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) in Coastal Kenya