Individual and Parent Risk Factors for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in High-Risk Youth in Uganda

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a global human rights problem. CSEC includes the sexual abuse of a child for the financial benefit of any person or in exchange for anything of value given or received by any person. To protect youth from victimization, it is imperative to examine risk factors that may increase the likelihood of CSEC victimization. This is especially relevant in low resource countries, where prevalence of poverty and violence against children increase risk. This study examined individual-level risk factors and parental risk factors to determine the associations with CSEC in a convenience sample of youth (12-18 years) living in the slums in Kampala Uganda. The dependent variable was youth yes/no response to the survey question “Have you ever gotten money, food, or other things for having sexual intercourse with someone?” Individual-level factors included gender, education, previously living on the streets, social media use, alcohol use, and age at first sexual intercourse, as well as prior trauma (victim of dating violence; victim of parental abuse; victim of rape). Parental-risk factors included parent alcohol use and permissive attitudes about youth sex. Analyses were restricted to self-reported sexually active youth (n=593) to enable comparability of the outcome and reference group. Of the sexually active youth, 39% reported CSEC history (Females 54.4%; Males 16.8%, respectively). Different patterns of risk factors emerged among CSEC females compared to males. For females, individual-level prior trauma, alcohol use, and social media use, as well as parental-level alcohol use and attitudes/approval of sex were predictive of CSEC involvement. For males, living on the streets and prior rape were significantly associated with CSEC. In the multivariable model of the full sample, CSEC was significantly associated with being female (OR: 6.85; 95% CI: 4.22, 11.12), living on the streets (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.65, 4.36), being a victim of physical dating violence (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.80), and ever being raped (OR: 4.03; 95% CI: 2.51, 6.47). It was not significantly associated with using social media (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 0.94, 2.35), This study contributes to our knowledge of the differential risk factors for CSEC among male and female youth living in high-risk circumstances in low resource countries. Preventative efforts should prioritize CSEC prevention among youth living on the streets who engage in high levels of social media use, have a history of using alcohol, and have a trauma history. Differential prevention efforts for adolescent females and males should be considered.