Abstract: Sexual abuse in schools remains a persistent challenge globally, with boarding secondary schools particularly vulnerable due to residential arrangements and limited parental oversight. This study investigated the influence of safety standards and guidelines on students’ sexual abuse in public boarding secondary schools in Kitui County, in the Republic of Kenya. A descriptive survey design with mixed methods was employed, involving boarding secondary schools’ target population of 16,719 and a sample of 605 participants. The sample included 200 teachers and 400 students, with 5 education officers for the interview. Purposive (for education officers) and simple random sampling techniques (for teachers and students) were used. Data were collected through structured questionnaires for teachers and students, and interview schedules for the education officers. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed with verbatim citations to contextualize quantitative findings. The results indicated that inadequate supervision and insufficient staff training significantly increase students’ vulnerability to sexual abuse. The study highlights the critical role of effective implementation of safety standards, enhanced supervision, and functional reporting and response mechanisms in safeguarding students. The findings offer practical, evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, school administrators, and child protection stakeholders to strengthen safety interventions and protect learners in boarding schools.

Abstract: This study examined how students performed academically after experiencing sexual abuse. The study used a phenomenological research design and a qualitative approach. The target audience consisted of students who are sexually abused, academic instructors, school counsellors, ward education officers, statistical and logistical officers, police officers, and social workers. All provided information that was gathered. The professional participants were chosen using the purposive sampling approach. Semi-structured interviews, observation, and document analysis were conducted from all participants to gather data. The results indicated that the majority of the abused learners underperformed as a result of sexual abuse and developed a fear of everyone around them, which disturbed their academic performance. Some developed an antisocial personality and a misguided annoyed attitude. The study concludes that students in public secondary schools who have experienced child sexual abuse do worse academically. According to the study’s findings, parents, school administrators, and teachers should collaborate when treating abused students to assist them in overcoming their difficulties and enhancing their social and academic performance. In addition, the education stakeholders and relevant ministries (Police, Child and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Education and Training) should assist in decreasing child abuse from the grassroots level.

Abstract: Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is categorized as one of the forms of child abuse and is one of the most confusing and perplexing problems facing many societies in the world. Child Sexual Abuse cannot be alleviated without disclosure, making it necessary to establish CSAD factors as a pathway to increase community resources (e.g., mental health and social services) for survivors. CSA affects the health of a community, but it is highly unreported. Perpetrators mask their behavior from community and survivors and appear normal and harmless. It is on this premise that the study purposed to examine the understanding of Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure from participants’ perspective in relation to family factors at Thika Level 5 Hospital in Kiambu County, Kenya. The major research question was; what family factors encourage/discourage child sexual abuse disclosure at Thika Level 5 Hospital in Kiambu County? The stuyd was carried out at Thika Level 5 Hospital (TL5H) in Kiambu County, Kenya. Data collection included in-depth interviews and survey questionnaires. The study utilized a convergent mixed method design. Descriptive and thematic approaches were applied to analyse qualitative data. The study found that family characteristics such as positive relationships acted as social processes that encouraged survivors to participate in the disclosure process. Emotional and physical support from trusted adults or family members played a significant role in CSA disclosure, especially during the treatment process. The study recommends that the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development craft new laws and policies that mandate adults in Kiambu County to report Child Sexual Abuse as soon as it occurs.