Factors Influencing Dropout From Psychotherapy Support Groups Among Sexually Abused Children In Selected Branches Of The Gender Violence Recovery Centres Of Nairobi Women’s Hospital, Kenya

Abstract

Successful outcome from psychotherapy treatment can be predicted by an individual’s compliance to the treatment and healing process. Conversely, dropout from psychotherapy results in incomplete treatment and less efficient outcomes. This study investigated factors influencing psychotherapy dropout among the survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) from support groups at the Gender Violence Recover Centres (GVRC) of Nairobi Women’s Hospital. Its objectives were to establish the psychotherapy drop-out rate among the (CSA) survivors aged 10-14 years at GVRC; explore the parental factors influencing psychotherapy drop-out rate among the CSA survivors aged 10-14 years at GVRC; examine the relationship of socio-demographic characteristics among the CSA survivors aged 10-14 years on drop-out rate at GVRC; and investigate the influence of psychosocial support centres on dropout among the CSA survivors at GVRC. The study employed descriptive research design. Target population included sexually abused children who had dropped out from support groups, their parents/caregivers and psychotherapists at GVRC. Purposive sampling was used to select respondents and data was collected using questionnaires. Quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0, while qualitative data was thematically analysed. The study revealed that the average drop-out rate was 51%. The children dropped out of therapy because of the unavailability of parents/guardians to accompany them for sessions, the dynamics of perpetrators living within the family set up and lack of money for transport. The study recommends the need for increased effort by GVRC to create awareness on psychotherapy as an essential treatment intervention among the sexually abused children.