Child Trafficking Vulnerabilities in Sierra Leone: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Background: The prevalence of child trafficking in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is one of the highest in the world, yet very little is known about child trafficking vulnerabilities in the region. Existing studies in SSA suggest that poverty and cultural factors (such as gender norms and traditional practices) may be two primary drivers for trafficking vulnerability. For example, informal fostering is a traditional practice which has been noted as a driver of child trafficking—as such many awareness campaigns in the region place an emphasis on reducing the practice of informal fostering. However, critics argue that a focus on poverty and cultural factors may be too simplistic, disregarding the complex nature of child trafficking and placing too much blame on traditional African communities. Thus, contextually relevant research is critically needed to address gaps in knowledge about child trafficking vulnerabilities within the SSA context and to develop appropriate and meaningful community-based strategies to address and prevent child trafficking.

Methods: This qualitative study explored vulnerabilities of child trafficking in Sierra Leone using data collected in 2020-2021. We draw from in-depth interviews with adult survivors of child trafficking (n=28), parents of survivors (n=23), and key informants (n= 17) as well as focus group discussions with community members (n=26). Data were collected in four districts in Sierra Leone including: Kenema, Kailahun, Kono and Kambia. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using a team-based coding and comparative thematic analysis approach.

Results: Results reveal that child trafficking vulnerability in Sierra Leone is a complex, intersectional, and dynamic process. Using an ecological framework, we identified how pressure from many structural factors (such as structural poverty and lack of school access) and social norms (such as gendered expectations for girls and boys) were often exacerbated by individual factors (such as orphanhood or household violence) which together produced a situation of increased vulnerability to experiencing trafficking. These results offer more insight into the dynamics of child trafficking vulnerabilities and suggest that while traditional practices (such as informal fostering) and structural factors (such as poverty) may indeed be factors which increased risk for children, they should be viewed in context rather than in isolation. When viewed in context, it is evident that vulnerability is produced as a process of intersecting factors rather than simply a result of one or two drivers.

Implications: Our findings underscore the complex intersections of factors between ecological levels which produce increased vulnerability to child trafficking. Rather than identifying a cultural practice (such as informal fostering) as the driver of child trafficking vulnerabilities, which could be stigmatizing, our findings point to a complex social process. These findings offer new insights into the trafficking vulnerabilities in Sierra Leone and have implications for practitioners developing interventions seeking to address the issue in the region.