Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Kenya
My name is Adrienne, I am a medical student from California. I am currently doing a research fellowship in Eldoret, Kenya. I have been here over 10 months working with children at AMPATH clinic. I want to tell you a little bit about my project:
Child sexual abuse is a world-wide problem. Studies show that btweeen 8 to 31 % for girls and 3 to 17 % for boys are sexually abused before they turn 18. (1) A study in Kenya in 2010 found 1/3 girls and 1/5 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. (2)
Despite the high amount of child sexual abuse in Kenya, only 3% of girls and 0.4% of boys report ever recieving medical care. (2) In countries like the UK, United States and India educational books have been created to educate children about this topic.
In Kenya one is yet to exist. To solve this problem my research team consiting of research assistants and counselors have come together to create a cuturally relevant book to educate children. 
The book aims to:
- Educate children about good and bad touches
- Teach children the names of their body parts
- Help children come up with a bosy safety plan (what to do if they are touched innapropriately, who to tell and when)
- Help children disclose sexual abuse
- Relay the message to victims that its not their fault and they are not alone
- Inform caregivers, teachers and the community about this issue.
- Motivate perpetrators to stop harmful behavior.
Currently we are doing a study to culturally validate the book and find out its effectiveness in the healthcare system in Kenya. We are training healthcare staff on how to use the book and handle disclosures of sexual abuse. 
Once validated we hope to distribute the book to schools, clinics, orphanages and children's homes, churches and other community organizations.
In that case its important that we raise money to make copies of the book for donation. Each copy (bound and laminated color book) costs $1.50. My hope is to raise $1500 to make 1000 copies. 
(The guy who will be printing the books)
In addition to our distribution, books will be available for free online. Please consider supporting this endevor. It will give a voice to children in Kenya waiting for your help.
Best,
Adrienne
(1) Barth et al. The current prevalence of child sexual abuse worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Public Health. 2012.
(2) UNICEF, CDC, Together for the Girls, Kenya Vision 2030, (2010) Violence Against Children in Kenya Findings from a 2010 National Survey.
