Are one-stop centres an appropriate model to deliver services to sexually abused children in urban Malawi?
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Pediatrics
Abstract
Background: The Republic of Malawi is creating a country-wide system of 28 One-Stop Centres (known as
‘Chikwanekwanes’ - ‘everything under one roof’) to provide medical, legal and psychosocial services for
survivors of child maltreatment and adult intimate partner violence. No formal evaluation of the utility of
such services has ever been undertaken. This study focused on the experiences of the families served at
the country’s first Chikwanekwane in the large, urban city of Blantyre.
Methods: One hundred seven families were surveyed in their home three months after their initial evaluation for
sexual abuse at the Blantyre One Stop Centre, and 25 families received a longer interview. The survey was designed to
inquire what types of initial evaluation and follow-up services the children received from the medical, legal and social
welfare services.
Results: All 107 received an initial medical exam and HIV testing, and 83% received a follow-up HIV test by 3 months;
80.2% were seen by a social welfare worker on the initial visit, and 29% had a home visit by 3 months; 84% were seen
by a therapist at the initial visit, and 12% returned for further treatment; 95.3% had an initial police report and 27.1%
ended in a criminal conviction for child sexual abuse. Most of the families were satisfied with the service they received,
but a quarter of the families were not satisfied with the law enforcement response, and 2% were not happy with the
medical assessment. Conclusions: Although a perception of corruption or negligence by police may discourage use of
service, we believe that the One-Stop model is an appropriate means to deliver high quality care to survivors of abuse
in Malawi.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
child sexual abuse, treatment, program development, law enforcement, prosecution, International Resources, Malawi
Citation
Mulambia, Y., Miller, A. J., MacDonald, G., & Kennedy, N. (2018). Are one-stop centres an appropriate model to deliver services to sexually abused children in urban Malawi?. BMC pediatrics, 18(1), 145.