Introduction: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder develops following some stressful events. There has ... more Introduction: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder develops following some stressful events. There has been increasing recognition that children who have been exposed to traumatic events like child sexual abuse can develop post-traumatic stress disorder just like adults. Objective: To determine prevalence of PTSD in sexually abused children seen at the Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. Research design: A cross sectional descriptive study of the prevalence of PTSD among the sexually abused children as seen at Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. Study site: Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre – Kenyatta National Hospital. Study Population: Sexually abused children seen at the GBVRC-KNH. Sampling Procedure: Study participants were selected using purposive sampling Study Instruments: Socio-demographic Questionnaire, Sexual Abuse Profile, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder index for DSM-IV, and Art Assessment for Children. Data M...
Negative beliefs and preconceived opinions on mental illness, which are not based on reason or ac... more Negative beliefs and preconceived opinions on mental illness, which are not based on reason or actual experience, play a significant role in determining treatment and health-seeking behaviour by caregivers of people with mental illness. This paper assesses the influence of prejudice on caregivers of people with mental illness in Uasin Gishu County. The study was anchored on the health-seeking behavior theory and targeted 480 respondents drawn from Uasin Gishu County. This was achieved through purposive sampling. Data from the caregivers was collected using a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions, while data from health care providers was collected using an interview schedule. Data from the questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while data from the focus group discussions and interviews used themes. The study revealed that prejudice (b=-0.332, þ<0.05), had negative and significant influences on health-seeking behavior of caregivers....
Background: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops following some stressful events. There... more Background: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops following some stressful events. There has been increasing recognition that children who have been exposed to traumatic events like child sexual abuse can develop post-traumatic stress disorder just like adults. Objective: To determine prevalence of PTSD in sexually abused children seen at the Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. Design: A cross sectional descriptive study. Setting: Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre-Kenyatta National Hospital. Subjects One hundred and forty-nine (n = 149) sexually abused children were recruited in the study. Results: The mean age 14.8%boys and 85.2% girls was 13.2 years (SD 4.2) the age at which sexual abuse most frequently (55%) occurred between 15-17 years. Sixty three percent of children reported that the perpetrator was known to them, and 76.5% of perpetrators used verbal or physical force during sexual assault. The prevalence of PTSD among the sexually abused children was 49%. PTSD was significantly associated with shorter duration of sexual abuse i.e. daily which is 67% as compared to months which is 4.7% (p = 0.005), Greater severity of injuries sustained during assault (p = 0.023), parent's marital status those whose parents were married or cohabiting 40% were affected as compared to 52% whose parents were separated or divorced (p = 0.003) and the family's way of sorting out their disagreements was also significantly associated with PTSD. Parents who sorted their disagreement by talking was at 31% while those who sorted their disagreement by fighting was at 67% (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence of PTSD among sexually abused children presenting at Kenyatta National Hospital Nairobi-Kenya. PTSD is associated with the degree of physical or verbal abuse during sexual abuse, injuries during assault, and parent-child relationships. These findings are important in formulation of appropriate prevention and care interventions to be implemented by families and other stakeholders.
Background The negative impact of institutionalization on children's development and well-being h... more Background The negative impact of institutionalization on children's development and well-being has led to a global recommendation for deinstitutionalization. In countries with weak infrastructure and family support, some children in institutional care have been found to have better outcomes, which may be due in part to the family-like environments created by some Charitable Children's Institutions (CCIs). Objective The goal was to examine whether and how alternative kinship structures were reproduced in CCIs. Method Qualitative data from 22 caregivers and 30 orphaned or separated children and adolescents (OSCAs) were collected using participant observation and in-depth interviews, and analysed using a symbolic interactionist theoretical framework. Results Social interaction with caregivers contributed meaning towards the definition of family within some CCIs, particularly those modeled after a village and/or a single family. These CCIs created a family-like care environment, resulting in OSCAs redefining the traditional concept of family based on consanguinity to one composed of non-kin providing care and support. Social interaction through family-related activities produced novel familial identities, and some OSCAs felt they were part of a quasi-family. However, OSCAs lacked autonomy, feared consequences of not following the rules of behaviour, and felt retraumatized and re-abandoned when they exited the CCIs at age 18. Conclusion Some CCIs created an "alternative" kinship structure in which most children focused on their education, were provided with basic needs, and formed long-term positive relationships. Despite a number of challenges, family-like CCIs may be a supportive last resort for children without kin to care for them.
Introduction: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder develops following some stressful events. There has ... more Introduction: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder develops following some stressful events. There has been increasing recognition that children who have been exposed to traumatic events like child sexual abuse can develop post-traumatic stress disorder just like adults. Objective: To determine prevalence of PTSD in sexually abused children seen at the Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. Research design: A cross sectional descriptive study of the prevalence of PTSD among the sexually abused children as seen at Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. Study site: Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre – Kenyatta National Hospital. Study Population: Sexually abused children seen at the GBVRC-KNH. Sampling Procedure: Study participants were selected using purposive sampling Study Instruments: Socio-demographic Questionnaire, Sexual Abuse Profile, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder index for DSM-IV, and Art Assessment for Children. Data M...
Background The negative impact of institutionalization on children's development and well-bei... more Background The negative impact of institutionalization on children's development and well-being has led to a global recommendation for deinstitutionalization. In countries with weak infrastructure and family support, some children in institutional care have been found to have better outcomes, which may be due in part to the family-like environments created by some Charitable Children's Institutions (CCIs). Objective The goal was to examine whether and how alternative kinship structures were reproduced in CCIs. Method Qualitative data from 22 caregivers and 30 orphaned or separated children and adolescents (OSCAs) were collected using participant observation and in-depth interviews, and analysed using a symbolic interactionist theoretical framework. Results Social interaction with caregivers contributed meaning towards the definition of family within some CCIs, particularly those modeled after a village and/or a single family. These CCIs created a family-like care environment...
Introduction: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder develops following some stressful events. There has ... more Introduction: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder develops following some stressful events. There has been increasing recognition that children who have been exposed to traumatic events like child sexual abuse can develop post-traumatic stress disorder just like adults. Objective: To determine prevalence of PTSD in sexually abused children seen at the Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. Research design: A cross sectional descriptive study of the prevalence of PTSD among the sexually abused children as seen at Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. Study site: Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre – Kenyatta National Hospital. Study Population: Sexually abused children seen at the GBVRC-KNH. Sampling Procedure: Study participants were selected using purposive sampling Study Instruments: Socio-demographic Questionnaire, Sexual Abuse Profile, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder index for DSM-IV, and Art Assessment for Children. Data M...
Negative beliefs and preconceived opinions on mental illness, which are not based on reason or ac... more Negative beliefs and preconceived opinions on mental illness, which are not based on reason or actual experience, play a significant role in determining treatment and health-seeking behaviour by caregivers of people with mental illness. This paper assesses the influence of prejudice on caregivers of people with mental illness in Uasin Gishu County. The study was anchored on the health-seeking behavior theory and targeted 480 respondents drawn from Uasin Gishu County. This was achieved through purposive sampling. Data from the caregivers was collected using a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions, while data from health care providers was collected using an interview schedule. Data from the questionnaire was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while data from the focus group discussions and interviews used themes. The study revealed that prejudice (b=-0.332, þ<0.05), had negative and significant influences on health-seeking behavior of caregivers....
Background: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops following some stressful events. There... more Background: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops following some stressful events. There has been increasing recognition that children who have been exposed to traumatic events like child sexual abuse can develop post-traumatic stress disorder just like adults. Objective: To determine prevalence of PTSD in sexually abused children seen at the Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. Design: A cross sectional descriptive study. Setting: Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre-Kenyatta National Hospital. Subjects One hundred and forty-nine (n = 149) sexually abused children were recruited in the study. Results: The mean age 14.8%boys and 85.2% girls was 13.2 years (SD 4.2) the age at which sexual abuse most frequently (55%) occurred between 15-17 years. Sixty three percent of children reported that the perpetrator was known to them, and 76.5% of perpetrators used verbal or physical force during sexual assault. The prevalence of PTSD among the sexually abused children was 49%. PTSD was significantly associated with shorter duration of sexual abuse i.e. daily which is 67% as compared to months which is 4.7% (p = 0.005), Greater severity of injuries sustained during assault (p = 0.023), parent's marital status those whose parents were married or cohabiting 40% were affected as compared to 52% whose parents were separated or divorced (p = 0.003) and the family's way of sorting out their disagreements was also significantly associated with PTSD. Parents who sorted their disagreement by talking was at 31% while those who sorted their disagreement by fighting was at 67% (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the high prevalence of PTSD among sexually abused children presenting at Kenyatta National Hospital Nairobi-Kenya. PTSD is associated with the degree of physical or verbal abuse during sexual abuse, injuries during assault, and parent-child relationships. These findings are important in formulation of appropriate prevention and care interventions to be implemented by families and other stakeholders.
Background The negative impact of institutionalization on children's development and well-being h... more Background The negative impact of institutionalization on children's development and well-being has led to a global recommendation for deinstitutionalization. In countries with weak infrastructure and family support, some children in institutional care have been found to have better outcomes, which may be due in part to the family-like environments created by some Charitable Children's Institutions (CCIs). Objective The goal was to examine whether and how alternative kinship structures were reproduced in CCIs. Method Qualitative data from 22 caregivers and 30 orphaned or separated children and adolescents (OSCAs) were collected using participant observation and in-depth interviews, and analysed using a symbolic interactionist theoretical framework. Results Social interaction with caregivers contributed meaning towards the definition of family within some CCIs, particularly those modeled after a village and/or a single family. These CCIs created a family-like care environment, resulting in OSCAs redefining the traditional concept of family based on consanguinity to one composed of non-kin providing care and support. Social interaction through family-related activities produced novel familial identities, and some OSCAs felt they were part of a quasi-family. However, OSCAs lacked autonomy, feared consequences of not following the rules of behaviour, and felt retraumatized and re-abandoned when they exited the CCIs at age 18. Conclusion Some CCIs created an "alternative" kinship structure in which most children focused on their education, were provided with basic needs, and formed long-term positive relationships. Despite a number of challenges, family-like CCIs may be a supportive last resort for children without kin to care for them.
Introduction: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder develops following some stressful events. There has ... more Introduction: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder develops following some stressful events. There has been increasing recognition that children who have been exposed to traumatic events like child sexual abuse can develop post-traumatic stress disorder just like adults. Objective: To determine prevalence of PTSD in sexually abused children seen at the Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. Research design: A cross sectional descriptive study of the prevalence of PTSD among the sexually abused children as seen at Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital. Study site: Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre – Kenyatta National Hospital. Study Population: Sexually abused children seen at the GBVRC-KNH. Sampling Procedure: Study participants were selected using purposive sampling Study Instruments: Socio-demographic Questionnaire, Sexual Abuse Profile, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder index for DSM-IV, and Art Assessment for Children. Data M...
Background The negative impact of institutionalization on children's development and well-bei... more Background The negative impact of institutionalization on children's development and well-being has led to a global recommendation for deinstitutionalization. In countries with weak infrastructure and family support, some children in institutional care have been found to have better outcomes, which may be due in part to the family-like environments created by some Charitable Children's Institutions (CCIs). Objective The goal was to examine whether and how alternative kinship structures were reproduced in CCIs. Method Qualitative data from 22 caregivers and 30 orphaned or separated children and adolescents (OSCAs) were collected using participant observation and in-depth interviews, and analysed using a symbolic interactionist theoretical framework. Results Social interaction with caregivers contributed meaning towards the definition of family within some CCIs, particularly those modeled after a village and/or a single family. These CCIs created a family-like care environment...
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Papers by Caroline Ombok