Reintegration practice of sexually exploited children in Zimbabwe: a qualitative analysis

Abstract

This qualitative study provides valuable insights into the reintegration practices of sexually exploited children in Zimbabwe. Phenomenology was used as the research approach to capture the lived experiences of participants from childcare institutions and sexually exploited children. The study was conducted in four research sites in Harare, Kadoma, and Mutare, and data were collected from 58 participants through interviews and focus group discussions. Purposive sampling was used to select key informants, and thematic data analysis procedures were employed to analyse the data. The study found that sexual exploitation was a prevalent issue in Zimbabwe, and victims of exploitation faced various challenges such as stigma, inadequate support, feelings of isolation, shame, fear, and other psychosocial problems. While Zimbabwe had several policies and guidelines related to the protection of children and rehabilitation and reintegration services, these policies were not comprehensive enough to standardise the services offered by rehabilitation centres. There was a lack of a specific policy to guide reintegration practices in Zimbabwe. The study concluded that there was a need to strengthen the reintegration framework in Zimbabwe by adopting an all-stakeholder approach to enhance the success of the reintegration practice. This would involve fostering collaboration and coordination among stakeholders involved in the reintegration process, increasing funding for reintegration services, and developing comprehensive policies and guidelines that address the specific needs and circumstances of sexually exploited children in Zimbabwe. Such measures would go a long way in supporting the successful recovery and reintegration of sexually exploited children into their families and communities.