Attributes of Reunification on Psychosocial Lives of Sexually Abused Children: The Case of Organization for Prevention, Rehabilitation and Integration of Female Street Children (OPRIFS) in Addis Ababa
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Date
2015-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Reunification is used as a means to re-unit children separated from their families to restore a family
environment for the proper upbringing and development of the child. The objective of this study is to
explore attributes (positive and negative) of reunification on psychological and social lives of
sexually abused and returned home children. The assessment of this qualitative study tried to identify
and listed the psychological and social problems. The study uses case study method, apply semistructured
in-depth interview, and collect data from reunified female children who faced the problem.
The study uses purposive sampling technique and a total of eleven return home children. The major
concerns like reason of run away, psychological and social problems, and feelings of family members
and neighbors in relation to reunification is discussed. It identifies major psychosocial problems that
those children faced during reunification and its effects on their psychological health and social
relation. The data collected from the in-depth interview, discussion and documentation were narrated
and analyzed. The findings showed that reunifications results shorter and longer term psychological
and social problems and the children shows feeling of fear, depression and poor peer relationship.
Generally, the assessment underlies the need to give attention to those children who are facing the
problem and the alternative child care system (reunification). Future researchers should prefer to aim
on gaining knowledge on the long-term effects of post reunification programs. So social workers
could resolve this limitation by adding specifies when interviewing participants. The study was
concerned about the poor, voiceless, discriminated and for those who are living in continuous
injustice. So mobilizing the community through effective ways in assisting reunifying children to
their family can be one of the ways that aim social work profession can be achieved
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Social Work