Transitioning from Child to Adult: Safeguarding Practice for Young People Who Have Experienced Child Sexual Exploitation
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nottingham Trent University
Abstract
This report presents the findings of a qualitative systematic review conducted with metaaggregation to synthesise findings. This research was guided by benchmark methodology in
qualitative systematic review research, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) approach.
Five databases were searched, utilising key words and strings developed in relation to the
research questions (see Appendix 1 for search terms). Further search of UK-based online
repositories and snowball sampling located additional articles to review. Studies were
screened against inclusion criteria (detailed in full in Section 4.2).
The review implemented standardised appraisal tools to assess the risk of bias (Critical
Appraisal Skills Programme, 2017) and present a measurement of confidence in findings
(GRADEcerQual). Finally, the review used meta-aggregation in order to construct a series of
synthesised findings. This technique is designed to offer robust, well-supported synthesised
findings for qualitative systematic reviews, which can serve as evidence for practice and
policy.
Findings
A total of 2,746 studies were found which, after screening, were reduced to 57. A further 47
were excluded after detailed full-text review, often because they failed the methodological or
content criteria upon closer reading, resulting in 10 included studies.
Half (five) of the studies were conducted in the USA, followed by three in the UK, and the
remaining two studies originated from Australia and New Zealand respectively. The studies
were relatively recent, with the clear exception being Hines et al (2005). All included studies
were qualitative and employed semi-structured interviews as the main data collection tool.
The majority of the studies (eight) reported research based on data collected directly from
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young people, and they were interpretive studies which drew on the voices of young people
who had experienced or were regarded as at risk of sexual exploitation. A total of 598 young
people’s views are reported, along with 176 professionals/practitioners. One parental
guardian was also noted as being present at a focus group (Beech et al., 2018).
The review found that significant gaps remain in what is known about young people who
have experienced sexual exploitation and their needs during the period of transition from
child to adult and children’s to adults’ services. For instance, data on prevalence of CSE in
this population is lacking and research which captures experiences across the diversity of
the youth population is needed. However what research exists can be characterised as
follows in terms of synthesised findings (SF).
Description
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Article
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Keywords
research, United Kingdom, International Resources, child sexual exploitation
Citation
Brady, G., Toft, A., Alldred, P., Roesch, C., Gair, H., Raymond, E., ... & Paechter, C. (2022). Transitioning from child to adult: safeguarding practice for young people who have experienced child sexual exploitation: Systematic review. Nottingham Trent University.