Abstract
Child sexual abuse is a complex public health problem with devastating outcomes for the child herself and the society at large. Decades of research attest to the high prevalence of these harmful acts toward children and their impact for overall individual and societal well-being. In Albania, a country with a relatively high young population, very little empirical research has been devoted to this issue, focusing mainly on the prevalence and incidence of the phenomenon. Furthermore, there is a paucity of data on societal and cultural norms contributing to the existence of child sexual abuse; whereas an in-depth understanding of these factors is necessary for any meaningful child protection interventions to take place. The current study attempts to offer helpful insights on societal norms surrounding child sexual abuse in Albania. It is a qualitative study, conducted in the region of Lushnja, involving discussions from focus groups with adult participants that are key figures in child protection; namely, parents, teachers and professionals working in the child protection area. Findings indicate that whereas child sexual abuse is perceived as being present in Albanian society, it remains hidden under a veil of secrecy due to the sensitive and taboo nature of the phenomenon. A thorough discussion of societal norms that contribute to the hidden nature of the phenomenon is provided along with an acknowledgment that there are protective factors within many Albanian families and society that should be strengthened and further developed in order to protect children. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n6p309
Highlights
Child abuse and neglect (CAN) constitutes a complex public health problem caused by numerous factors worldwide related to individual, family and community characteristics (NIH, 2007; WHO, 1999)
Decades of research on the international sphere have addressed the issue of child sexual abuse (CSA); very little empirical research on the matter has been conducted in the Albania
The study was conducted at a pilot level in the region of Lushnja, during the period of December 2015-January 2016. It was a qualitative study, consisting of data collected via focus group discussions led with parents and teachers of children of ages 11-15 and 16-18, and professionals that work in the area of child protection
Summary
Child abuse and neglect (CAN) constitutes a complex public health problem caused by numerous factors worldwide related to individual, family and community characteristics (NIH, 2007; WHO, 1999). Child sexual abuse is one of the harmful acts children should be protected from. In regards to sexual abuse among children, an estimated 1 in 10 have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA) by the time they are 18 years of age (WHO, n.d.), while 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men report having been sexually abused as a child (WHO, 2014). Experts estimate that between 20 and 30 percent of all children and adolescents have been victims of sexual abuse at some time in their lives (Averdijk, Müller-Johnson & Eisner, 2011). Despite its spread and societal impact, the phenomenon of CSA in Albania continues to remain hidden; and, to date, official comprehensive country data on its prevalence and incidence are still lacking. Concerning sexual abuse “fear, shame and loyalty prevent many victims from reporting the abuse.”
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