Cultural Factors Influencing Child Sexual Abuse in the Society: A Case of Arusha City

Abstract

To combat child sexual abuse, the Tanzanian government has implemented systems, regulations, and guidelines to eradicate the problem. Nonetheless, despite the government of Tanzania's extensive protocols, regulations, and standards, the problem of child sexual abuse persists. This therefore prompted the researcher to cultural factors influencing child sexual abuse in the society using Arusha city as case study. This study will be based on a case study design. This study targeted citizens of Arusha city. This study used non-probability specifically convenience sampling technique to select respondents. This research used of both primary and secondary data. In-depth personal interviews and questionnaire were used to obtain primary data. Secondary data were obtained through documentary review. Data from interviews was analysed using thematic analysis. The questionnaire data was statistically analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. given by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Findings showed that, majority of the respondents to the large extent agreed that the myths and beliefs as well as tendency of silence and nondisclosure influence the child sexual abuse in the society. Findings unveiled stated that the rituals beliefs influence the child sexual abuse in the society. Also, findings designated that cultural perception and mentality influence the child sexual abuse in the society. The researcher recommends that further studies can conducted in other regions, cities and towns in Tanzania using the same sample or could include a large population, in order to explore critical factors influencing child sexual abuse in the society and to allow generalization of the findings to a wider population.