Practices, Challenges and Contribution of Counseling Services to Address Psychological Problems of Children Who Survived Trafficking
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study assessed the practice, challenges and contribution of counseling service being offered to
address the psychological problems of trafficked children in Organization of Prevention, Rehabilitation,
and Integration for Female Street Children (OPRIFS). Seventy participants aged 10-18 years old selected
using availability sampling based on inclusion criteria were assigned into those who receivedand have
not received counseling service groups, each with 35 participants. Theresearch design was a descriptive
type. Three standardized scales, namely,Anxiety scale, Depression Symptoms Scales and Self-Esteem
Scale were used to measure the dependent variables for the two occasions: Received and Non-received
counseling service. Independentt-test indicated that, children in two groupsshowed
statisticallysignificant difference in the level of anxiety (t=-24.32, df=68, p<0.01) .i.ethe level of anxiety is
higher for those have not received counseling service than those who received counseling service.
Independent t-test indicated there exists a statistically significant difference in level of depression
between respondents who received counseling service and those who didn’t receive counseling service
(t=-7.517, df=68, p<0.01). It was found that depression level for those who didn’t receive counseling
service was found to be higher than those who received the counseling service. The other finding was
that there exist a statistically significant difference in level of self-esteem between respondents who
received counseling service and those who didn’t receive counseling service (t=23.461, df=68, p<0.01). It
was found that self-esteem level for those who received counseling service was found to be higher than
those who didn’t receive the service. From theseresults it was suggested that the application of
counseling service needs to be provided in a strengthened way with due considerations of improving of
proper privacy and provision of play and creative therapy skills training for counselors and so as to utilize
it in their counseling strategy .These may enable toaddress psychological problems of children who
survived trafficking in more otherorganizations or settings. It was observed that the practice of
counseling service being rendered for children who have survived trafficking is helpful to deal with their
behavioral problems. Interview with the counselors and Focus Group discussion with the children results
showed counseling service being rendered at the centers is helping the children in dealing with
psychological problems of the children.The observation results indicated that the counseling setting at
the centers is good to provide counseling services though privacy of one of the centers needs to be
improved. Recommendations and implications of the study are indicated.
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Keywords
Children Who Survived