Lupine Publishers | Scholarly Journal Of Psychology And Behavioral Sciences
Introduction
Transition
in life for young people is taking another trajectory from the known trends.
Domestic workers (DW) especially girls working as a (maids) in households are
less reported about their transition when they leave domestic work. Whereas
many studies capture their experiences and clamor for decent and improved
working and regulated conditions [1] there hasn’t been any follow up on their
lives after domestic work to help enhance knowledge about their previous experience
[2-4]. In Uganda alone, 2.3 million are affected by the child labor. It is
common to see children working as maids and doing house help [5]. This type of
work is spread both in rural and urban centers. Domestic work is, in fact, one
of the most common forms of child employment [6]. The numbers giving estimate
this problem of DW is still difficult to come and no single factor appears to
explain the SEC phenomenon [7]. Girls in domestic work irrespective of any
circumstance are vulnerable. The Modified social stress model [4] remind us
that if there a many risk and fewer protective factors children will end up
adopting high risk behaviors. Children are sometimes under the control of
adults whose first concern is not their wellbeing, but their contribution to
the happiness of the employer family. The fact that the vast majority of child
domestic workers are girls means that vulnerabilities are compounded by gender
considerations especially sexual pressures from men in the household [8,9]. The
study was interested in exploring the interface of child domestic work and
sexual exploitation in rural and urban Uganda.
Methods
The
study was descriptive using a cross-sectional design. It was conducted in May
and June 2019 to examine the social demographic characteristics, trafficking
patterns of children in both formerly in domestic labor and sexually
exploitative situations. The study examined a convenient sample of youth 14-24
years who were under rehabilitation in Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL)
safe space in the rural setting. Setting and data Collection: The rural and
urban UYDEL centers provide vocational training, reproductive health services
and psycho-social counseling for disadvantaged children and young people. Study
participants were recruited at UYDEL centers in the districts of Mubende,
Mityana and Luwero. Over the two weeks of data collection period, a total of
270 young people was reached and only 250 consented to the survey. The study
adopted largely a quantitative data collection guide. A structured
questionnaire was designed with coded responses. The survey utilized ODK survey
software and data was collected via tablets. The research assistants were
trained on ethical issues. A pre-test exercise was conducted outside the study
UYDEL centers. The study revealed that girls who had ever engaged in domestic
work longer shared more, and a few did not want to share their past traumatic
experiences. The study received approval by UYDEL IRB.
Results
Demographic
distribution, family, educational and background of domestic workers. In terms
of demographic distribution, majority of the 250 study participants (98.4%)
were females and only 4 boys (2%) were males. All had a history of having
worked as domestic workers and involved in transactional sex. Majority fell in
the age bracket 15-18 years (49%) and those from 19 years above were (50%). The
dominant religion were Catholics at (43%) followed Anglicans (20%),
Pentecostals and Muslims at (16.4%) each. Interestingly, (60%) of participants
had all both parents alive. Only (11%) were total orphans. We noted that
slightly over (54%) were from polygamous families and (60%) of participants had
dropped out of school at primary level (Table 1). Children from polygamous
families are likely to be targeted for domestic work. The presentation of
religion by DW was also a true representation of the religious national country
picture.
Trafficking and Movements
of Children to Domestic Work Destination
Understanding trafficking is important to
establish how girls ended up in DDW. See Table 2:
Trafficking
and Recruitment Half of the girls (50%) confessed to a movement likened to
trafficking. The persons responsible for their trafficking were majorly
friends, siblings, employer and stranger (42%) followed by parents/guardians.
Friends, parents, and pimps also played a very active role in the recruitment
to their destinations. Children mentioned that because places of work were
distant most of them used varied transportation and urging DW that they will
make more money (71%). A few were coerced. DW on arrival in homes are promised
education (31%), good life (28%), and good working conditions (22%). Connection
of domestic workers to homes and Age of entry It was revealed that (40%) were
linked to homes by friends, another (32%) by guardians or parents, (11%) by
pimps and another 16% by unknown others. Friends will normally go back and pick
another girl in the same village to a home which is looking for a house girl.
The study established that almost (78%) of the participants had one or more of
her siblings recruited domestic work for pay. Majority of girls recruited
entered DW at the age bracket 14-18 almost (70%); followed by 8-13 years
(11.2%). See Table 3 below. It is presumed that girls above 14 years can ably
do domestic work chores, submissive and interfere less in other home-related
issues.
Reasons, Nature of domestic work and their
experiences
The
reasons given by participants for joining DW were to provide for my basic needs
(49%) and take care of my family (22%). These two factors alone accounted for
(71%) for the reasons to go to work. Another (22%) wanted to go work get money
and go back to school. A small (8%) alleges that they are forced by parents to
go work in homes as DW. DW are paid an average monthly emolument ranging from
shillings 5,000 to 35,000{$9 USD} A dollar rate by June 2019 was 3,700 Uganda
shilling to 1 $ dollar). Remittance of money home, Duration in homes and Types
of homes The findings revealed that (74%) sent money home regularly between
shillings 10,000-30,000 [8$ per month] via a mobile phone and only (7%) were
saving. The average time spent working as domestic workers ranged between 1-2
years (81%). Another (16%) persists up to 3 years. It was revealed that 33% of
participants had their money paid deducted by employers to pay traffickers
using their first salary. Employers who engaged DW vary in their capacity in
terms of room space, time and chores. Most homes had three bedrooms (65%) and
another (28%) had two rooms a sitting and bedroom. Only (7%) had single rooms
were sleeping together. It was revealed that (60%) worked in wall fenced homes.
The study established (18%) had sexual relationship with their bosses. Of those
who had sexual relationship was “consented’ and another was forced. Sexual
relationship resulted in terminating their services, beaten and got pregnant.
Domestic
work and transitioning into sexual exploitation and exposure to pornography
Many DWs return home to face the same challenges of poverty and escalated
vulnerability and have to fend for themselves. The quickest way is to engage in
transactional sex with multiple partners. Most of our interviewees (86%) had
viewed sexually explicit images and materials via phones followed by television
(25%). Fewer materials are accessed through internet, video magazines, bars and
lodges (Tables 4-6). Friends (mostly boyfriends and their clients) facilitate
accessing sexually explicit images via online (72%). These are the biggest
perpetrators.
Karaoke Groups and Child
Sexual Exploitation
Findings
showed that a small number had participated in Karaoke activities only (8%),
dancing karaoke activities of nude dancing at night in bars; enticed by their
friends, sibling and recruited by employers who were mostly men. Most of the
training was coached by a peer in the same group. The study participants (58%)
mentioned sleeping with clients on their own volition. Others were encouraged
by the owner of the group and sleep with 1-2 clients in night and a few sleeps
with 3-4 clients. Patrons and fellow peers also prayed on the girls.
Participants indicated that there are many other karaoke groups in the area.
Problems Sexual
Exploitation And In Karaoke Related Activities
The
most sited problem was rape and sexual harassments (42%), followed by poor
working condition (11%), no or less pay per show (11%) fights, unwanted
pregnancy (11%) and dangers Use of drugs of abuse (5%). The (74%) had ever been
arrested largely for moving late at night and fighting (21percent). Also (7.1%)
each had been arrested because stealing a phone, idle and disorderly and
engaging in commercial sex. Of the 19 girls, 5 had conceived and had children
as a result.
Discussion
The
study noted that DW appears to be phenomena that still exist and goes on
unbated. Girls are the prime target as early as 14 years, out of school and
those experiencing economic challenges in homes. Families with many children
get rid of children in anticipation that the girls in DW will partially support
the family economically. Other siblings are also surrendered to DW irrespective
of their parental status. The traffickers who recruit children are normally
given a reward or commission. There was a lot of variation in terms of pay not
commensurate to the tasks the girls averaging 18 hours with no break. Children
on average will work in 1-2 homes in the first two years and move to another
home or return home. Wall fenced homes are reported to be recruiting and
receiving more children, followed by homes with two rooms. Families living in a
single room also employ child domestic workers. The giving pseudo names to DWs
makes reaching them very difficult and inhuman mistreatment goes unnoticed and
problems. We deduced that domestic workers face a myriad of problems and this
leaves them traumatized. A small number end up in forced sexual relationship
with their bosses and thus, end up being forced out of the homes, terminate
their pregnancies, quit when mistreatment becomes unbearable and almost to
human slavery (Miller, 2005). Suicide ideation and unattended mental health
needs were also raised. The DW scenario in their homes agrees with the Modified
social stress model indicating that if there are many risks the child’s life
the girls are likely to engage in risky behavior. Conversely, the more
protective factors that are present for girls to inoculate the stress, the less
likely the DW to become involved in (Rhodes, et al 1990). Transactional sex,
karaoke and use of substance behaviorwas a normalized behavior and, in the end,
made the girls more vulnerable to other risks like pregnancy, violence and
sexual abuse.
Implications of the Study
This
study reveals that some families that are constrained economically will avail
the children to anybody including traffickers hoping for a better life in
future. Girls will be targeted as a tool for earning supplementary income in
city and rural towns; will not work beyond two years, find another place to
work or return home. Since the economic situation and other stressors didn’t
change, DW become candidates for sexual exploitation and engage with multiple
partners in high-risk sexual activities. Online sexual exploitation amongst DW
was also an additional gate way to transactional sex. The option of returning
DW girls to school is still possible either in mainstream schools or all
impediments which will force girls out of school need to be minimized. There is
a need to do more public social investments to address negative cultures like polygamy
and children as source of money, family livelihood and more interventions that
keep girls in schools, have viable empowerment and alternative incomes
generating activities. Future studies need to explore the issues of boys as
domestic workers as the information about this is still scanty.
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