Multisystemic factors predicting street migration of children in Kenya : a multilevel longitudinal study of families and villages
Loading...
Date
Authors
Goodman, Michael L.
Theron, Linda C.
McPherson, Heidi
Seidel, Sarah
Raimer-Goodman, Lauren
Munene, Kelvin
Gatwiri, Christine
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
BACKGROUND :
Street-migration of children is a global problem with sparse multi-level or longitudinal data. Such data are required to inform robust street-migration prevention efforts.
OBJECTIVE :
This study analyzes longitudinal cohort data to identify factors predicting street-migration of children – at caregiver- and village-levels.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING :
Kenyan adult respondents (n = 575; 20 villages) actively participated in a community-based intervention, seeking to improve factors previously identified as contributing to street-migration by children.
METHODS :
At two time points, respondents reported street-migration of children, and variables across economic, social, psychological, mental, parenting, and childhood experience domains. Primary study outcome was newly reported street-migration of children at T2 “incident street-migration”, compared to households that reported no street-migration at T1 or T2.
For caregiver-level analyses, we assessed bivariate significance between variables (T1) and incident street-migration. Variables with significant bivariate associations were included in a hierarchical logistical regression model.
For community-level analyses, we calculated the average values of variables at the village-level, after excluding values from respondents who indicated an incident street-migration case to reduce potential outlier influence. We then compared variables between the 5 villages with the highest incidence to the 15 villages with fewer incident cases.
RESULTS :
In regression analyses, caregiver childhood experiences, psychological factors and parenting behaviors predicted future street-migration. Lower village-aggregated depression and higher village-aggregated collective efficacy and social curiosity appeared significantly protective.
CONCLUSIONS :
While parenting and economic strengthening approaches may be helpful, efforts to prevent street migration by children should also strengthen community-level mental health, collective efficacy, and communal harmony.
Description
DATA AVAILABILITY :
Data will be made available on request.
Keywords
Street-migration, Children and youth, Kenya, Multisectoral, Prevention, SDG-03: Good health and well-being, SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-being
SDG-11:Sustainable cities and communities
SDG-11:Sustainable cities and communities
Citation
Goodman, M., Theron, L., McPherson, H. et al. 2024, 'Multisystemic factors predicting street migration of children in Kenya: a multilevel longitudinal study of families and villages', Child Abuse and Neglect, vol. 154, art. 106897, pp. 1-14, doi : 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106897.