A study of how commercial sex workers care for and arrange for future support to their children: case of Kibera, Nairobi
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Date
2001-12
Authors
Chege, Margaret Jambi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Childcare is necessary for child survival growth and development. It is influenced by
certain factors such as the maternal health status and resource availability. It has been
estimated that 50-80% of Kenya's commercial sex workers are HIV positive. They are
the primary caregivers for their children. Yet while considerable body of research in
Kenya has focused on commercial sex workers as a high-risk group for the fatal
HIV/AIDS and on their role in relation to HIV epidemic, no data were available on how
they care and plan for future support of their children.
This descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out among 385 commercial sex
workers in Kibera Slum in Nairobi Kenya, between July and December 2000. The aim of
this study was to evaluate the commercial sex workers' childcare practices and how they
plan for future support of their children. The study respondents were women aged
between 18 and 49 years. They all had children whose age groups included the 0-18
years. Data were collected over a period of 18 weeks, using a structured questionnaire,
observations of the under five years old children, verification of child health cards and
Focus Group Discussions. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS).
The results indicated that 81.2% of the study population lived with their children despite
the fact that 75.1% practised prostitution at home. In this study 89.9% of the study
population had taken their children to school. However continuous education was
undermined by lack of school fees (52.5%) and truancy (46.6%) with more of the
illiterate mothers (65.%) reporting school dropouts. A larger proportion (42.2%) of the
respondents who practised prostitution at home (42.2%) reported more school dropouts of
their children than those who practised elsewhere.
Results of health promotion indicated that 96.8% of the under five years old children
were fully immunized. More respondents who knew their HIV status discussed
HIV/STDs with their children than those that did not know (X2 25.3, p<O.OOl). Focus
group discussions showed that, health-seeking behaviour for the children was hampered
by use of alcohol by the mothers and to some extent, health care cost. Health seeking
behaviour for the mothers was significantly associated with respondent's knowledge of
own HIV status (X2=6.1, p<O.05).
Support for commercial sex workers in bringing up their children, was minimal. Only
43.9% received support from extended families. The illiterate mothers were less likely to
be supported by relatives (OR 2.64, p<O.Ol).
Possession of assets was positively associated with having an extra income generating
activity (X2=17.8, p<O.OOl). Those respondents with secondary education were more
likely to possess assets for future support of their children compared to those without (OR
1.9, p<O.05).
Generally, the commercial sex workers of Kibera slums made no provisions for future
support of their children. Alcohol consumption and low education undermined their
efforts to provide better care to their children, and to secure resources. This underlines the
need for continuous health education among commercial sex workers and establishment
of systems that will assist them to invest in the education of their children.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of master of public health and epidemiology of Kenyatta University, December 2001