@article{ref1,
title="Multisystemic factors predicting street migration of children in Kenya: a multilevel longitudinal study of families and villages",
journal="Child abuse and neglect",
year="2024",
author="Gatwiri, Christine and Munene, Kelvin and Raimer-Goodman, Lauren and Seidel, Sarah and McPherson, Heidi and Theron, Linda and Goodman, Michael",
volume="154",
number="",
pages="e106897-e106897",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Street-migration of children is a global problem with sparse multi-level or longitudinal data. Such data are required to inform robust street-migration prevention efforts. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: This study analyzes longitudinal cohort data to identify factors predicting street-migration of children - at caregiver- and village-levels. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Kenyan adult respondents (n = 575; 20 villages) actively participated in a community-based intervention, seeking to improve factors previously identified as contributing to street-migration by children. <br><br>METHODS: At two time points, respondents reported street-migration of children, and variables across economic, social, psychological, mental, parenting, and childhood experience domains. Primary study outcome was newly reported street-migration of children at T2 &quot;incident street-migration&quot;, compared to households that reported no street-migration at T1 or T2. For caregiver-level analyses, we assessed bivariate significance between variables (T1) and incident street-migration. Variables with significant bivariate associations were included in a hierarchical logistical regression model. For community-level analyses, we calculated the average values of variables at the village-level, after excluding values from respondents who indicated an incident street-migration case to reduce potential outlier influence. We then compared variables between the 5 villages with the highest incidence to the 15 villages with fewer incident cases. <br><br>RESULTS: In regression analyses, caregiver childhood experiences, psychological factors and parenting behaviors predicted future street-migration. Lower village-aggregated depression and higher village-aggregated collective efficacy and social curiosity appeared significantly protective. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: While parenting and economic strengthening approaches may be helpful, efforts to prevent street migration by children should also strengthen community-level mental health, collective efficacy, and communal harmony.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-2134",
doi="10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106897",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106897"
}