Unwanted humans: Pathways to the street and risky behaviors for girls in Cote d'Ivoire

A number of previous research and nongovernmental organization (NGO) reports have documented rural-to-urban migration trends of adolescent girls seeking work in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, many of these girls end up living on the street. This study examined factors that lead many of these girls in Cote d'Ivoire to become homeless and at risk for exploitation. We found that more than two thirds of those interviewed had been brought to the city by a relative or other significant adult to work as domestic workers, but many ended up on the street and exploited for commercial sex. The rural-born girls reported a higher level of abuse and risky sexual behavior than those raised in the city. Amidst broken promises for schooling support, narratives also uncovered a link between domestic work and abuse, and limited family support that marginalized girls and young women. More research is needed to understand the challenges and experiences of adolescents living on the street. Countries with high rural-to-urban migration must develop an alternative protection system that supports life-skill development to protect them from the risks of living on the street.