The Sexual Abuse Experience of Female Street Children in Akakai Kality Sub City, Addis Ababa

dc.contributor.advisorGudina Abashula (PhD)
dc.contributor.authorMahderehiwot Abebe
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-16T11:11:30Z
dc.date.available2025-08-16T11:11:30Z
dc.date.issued2024-06
dc.description.abstractThe study explores the experience and coping strategies of sexually abused female street children in Akaki Kality Sub City, Addis Ababa. The research aims to explore the risks faced by female street children on the street, and to describe the coping strategies they employ to manage the risks. The research aims to explore the risks faced by female street children on the street, and to describe the coping strategies they employ to manage the risks. The research addressed the following research questions: what are the sexual abuse experiences of female street children? Why do they become target of sexual abuse? what coping strategies do they employ to deal with the challenges they face? In order to answer these questions, a qualitative data collection method was used, including in-depth interviews with eleven female street children, focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews. The findings reveal that female street children face numerous challenges due to their existence on the street. They face physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and are denied access to education, shelter and food. Additionally, they are subjected to harsh weather conditions, health problems, drug abuse, and social discrimination. The major types of sexual abuse are found to be rape, group rape, inappropriate touching, forced kissing, sexual harassment and verbal abuse. These horrible situations expose them to various problems, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unwanted pregnancies, and abortions. The findings further reveal that female street children experience profound and longlasting psychological effects due to their challenging circumstances. In order to cope up with the inherent street stress the majority of female street children resorted to using illicit drugs, chewing “chat”, drinking alcohol, or even attempting suicide, as a way to escape their harsh realities. In addition, to deal with the difficulties of street life, they also employ various adaptive strategies, including shifting locations and rotating sites, spirituality, practicing avoidance to manage stress, forming supportive alliances and friendships for mutual aid, engaging in low income activities to sustain themselves.
dc.identifier.urihttps://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/6803
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAddis Ababa University
dc.subjectChild Sexual abuse
dc.subjectStreet children
dc.subjectCoping Strategies
dc.titleThe Sexual Abuse Experience of Female Street Children in Akakai Kality Sub City, Addis Ababa
dc.typeThesis

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