Health Belief Model and Labelling Theory in the Analysis of Preventive Behaviors to Address Biopsychosocial Impacts of Sexual Violence among Street Children in Yogyakarta

Abstract

Background: Street children are at high risk of sexual violence. Necessary measures should be undertaken to address deleterious biopsychosocial impacts of sexual violence. This study aimed to analyze the preventive behaviors to address biopsychosocial impacts of sexual violence among street children in Yogyakarta using Health Belief Model and Labelling Theory. Subjects and Method: This study was qualitative descriptive with phenomenology approach. The key informants for this study included Head of Rumah Impian Indonesia Foundation (a social non-government organization) and Director of PKBI, Yogyakarta. The main informants were the street children with assistance from Rumah Impian Indonesia Foundation. Supporting informants were health personnels of Jetis community health center and the street children's brothers. Results: Street children who had experienced sexual violence were taken care by Rumah Impian Indonesia Foundation. The biopsychosocial effects of sexual violence included anxiety, anger, shock, trauma, fear, feelings of revenge, irritation, emotion, stress, unwillingness to eat, bad mood, and staying alone in the room. Preventive behaviour to overcome biopsychosocial impacts of sexual violence included forgetting, letting it go, not mentioning the problem again. Label or negative stigma given by the community to street children included marred children, dirty children, and social garbage. Conclusion: Sexual violence experienced by street children cause various psychologic impacts, which calls for appropriate preventive behaviors to minimize the deleterious impacts of sexual violence. The social impacts of sexual violence in street children include labelling and negative stigma.