Distinctiveness in the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of the Literature

Research on the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in sub-saharan Africa was considered sparse and fragmented. Today, a substantial number of studies are available on CSEC in the region. A total of 92 studies were selected and reviewed. Electronic database and manual searches were used to locate the studies. First, regarding the quality of the studies, several themes emerged, including (a) inadequate description of ethical considerations in some studies, (b) substantial participation of children in research on CSEC in the region, and (c) the use of participatory research strategy with children. Second, the findings show not only that most victims of CSEC have agency over their sexual transactions but that they also live with their families. Other distinctive aspects of CSEC in sub-saharan Africa include limited presence of pimps in CSEC and lack of research on mental health issues among child victims. The review challenges some key knowledge in the mainstream literature on CSEC. It points to the importance of giving consideration to social and cultural factors in research on CSEC. The review also calls for ethical considerations and robust monitoring standards in any research on CSEC in the region and beyond.