Addressing Child Sexual Abuse Research Articles

An Uphill Battle: A systematic literature review on the challenges of addressing Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) in the developing countries

Despite worldwide concern over child sexual abuse (CSA), studies on barriers of combating it are still limited. Most studies focusing on the contributing factors particularly from the societal perspectives. Hence this article presents a systematic literature review on challenges in addressing CSA in the context of developing countries in Asia. Using PRISMA protocol, 17 articles from 2017 till present were selected. Several themes emerged leading to the conceptualization of the challenges in dealing with CSA which include taboo and social stigma, poverty and economic vulnerability, witnesses of the legal system, lack of knowledge and institutional and structural challenges.

An Uphill Battle: A systematic literature review on the challenges of addressing Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) in the developing countries

An Uphill Battle: A systematic literature review on the challenges of addressing Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) in the developing countries

ISIZULU-SPEAKING CAREGIVERS’ PERCEPTIONS ON DISCLOSING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Child sexual abuse affects children and caregivers all around the world. According to the South African Police Service’s (2020/21) crime statistics report, child sexual abuse is common in South Africa, particularly the township of Tsakane. Tsakane, located in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, is predominantly comprised of IsiZulu-speaking residents and has a significant child sexual abuse problem. Child sexual abuse may be perceived differently by IsiZulu-speaking caregivers than by other cultural groups and hence a qualitative study was carried out to explore this phenomenon. The study employed an exploratory design and semi-structured individual interviews. Thematic content analysis was conducted in analysing the data. The findings revealed that isiZulu caregivers in Tsakane are hesitant to report incidences of child sexual abuse because of cultural, environmental and psychological cost factors. This means that socialwork should address child sexual abuse in a comprehensive, culturally sensitive and community-focused manner. Keywords: caregiver, child sexual abuse, culture, disclosure, isiZulu

Understanding the POCSO Act and its Role in Addressing Child Sexual Abuse Cases in India

Understanding the POCSO Act and its Role in Addressing Child Sexual Abuse Cases in India

Child sexual abuse prevention: A qualitative study of teachers' educational needs.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) has emerged as a global concern, particularly affecting children in Indonesia. However, there remains a scarcity of research on CSA within the Indonesian context.Objective: This study aimed to explore the educational needs of primary school teachers in preventing child sexual abuse. A qualitative descriptive study design was employed, with eight teachers and school principals selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through focus group discussions and analyzed using content analysis. Six categories emerged: 1) The risk of sexual abuse, 2) The necessity for clear CSA preventive regulations and sanctions for abusers, 3) Lack of CSA program socialization, 4) The need for structured CSA prevention education for children, 5) The importance of effective coordination with various relevant stakeholders, and 6) The presence of barriers and obstacles. This study provides valuable insights into the educational prerequisites for teachers to implement CSA prevention measures effectively. The findings emphasize the pressing need for school teachers to develop and implement CSA prevention programs, with the government's and nursing professionals' support, to enhance educators' abilities in combating CSA. Nurses have a pivotal role in preventing and addressing child sexual abuse, and they should actively contribute to improving child safety and well-being through knowledge, collaboration, and advocacy for comprehensive prevention strategies.

Mind the gap: strategies for child protection in communities and organizations

ABSTRACT This study reports on the findings of a symposium co-sponsored by blinded information focused on how to address child sexual abuse in communities and organizations. The focus of this study was on the participants’ perspectives regarding how individuals, organizations, and communities can prevent child sexual abuse. All those who attended were invited to participate in the study by responding to an online survey that included open-ended questions focused on barriers and promoters for decreasing child sexual abuse in the global community. In total, 76 respondents completed the survey and of those, 39 were from the United States, with the majority of the participants were female (n=52, 68%; males n = 24, 32%), with an average age of 51 (range = 23–86; median = 52). The constant comparison method of qualitative data analysis was used to identify the three major themes for barriers and strategies that emerged: Views of Society, Education/Increasing Awareness, and Systematic/Structural Changes. Each major theme was comprised of subthemes that provide additional details of the responses. Recommendations for primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary levels of prevention are discussed.

Children’s perspectives on family members’ needs and support after child sexual abuse

Intra-familial child sexual abuse is acknowledged to have wide-reaching impacts within the family environment; impacts that can affect both non-abusing family members’ own wellbeing and their capacity to support the child who has been abused. Yet research also demonstrates the important role that can be played by family members, in the aftermath of the identification of abuse, when appropriately supported. This article builds on this existing evidence base (that is primarily drawn from research with parents/carers and professionals) through analysing a unique qualitative data set, developed using interviews and a creative ‘toolkit’ approach with 53 children and young people (aged 6–19 years), who had experienced sexual abuse in the family environment. The article explores their perspectives on the wider family impacts of identification of abuse, their perceptions of the associated support needs of other family members and their understanding of how this relates to their own recovery. The findings firstly suggest the need to recognise children’s relationships with non-abusing family members as a fundamental and interdependent aspect of their recovery in the aftermath of sexual abuse in the family environment. Secondly, they demonstrate the need to recognise the high levels of (self-perceived) responsibility that child victims experience for impacts on their non-abusing family members. Finally, they highlight how professional support to non-abusing family members is explicitly identified as an unmet need by children themselves, and how crucial it is to alleviate what children describe as the ‘ripple effect’ of additional challenges and harms emanating after abuse is identified. The article concludes by considering the implications of these findings, further strengthening arguments around the importance of viewing children’s needs relationally and the unique and critical insights to be gained from involving children in research addressing child sexual abuse.

Abordaje de la violencia sexual infantil: un llamado a la acción para los profesionales de América Latina

The objective of this communication is to outline the key elements required to train health care providers in various occupations (medicine, psychology, dentistry, nursing, social work, nutrition, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, chemistry, pharmacy, and obstetrics, including midwifery, among others) to address child sexual abuse (CSA) and develop care protocols grounded on evidence-based practices, as well as provide resources to optimize both processes. Training on child and adolescent sexual abuse is an essential component of facing this major challenge in Latin America and allowing health care personnel to fulfill their role of safeguarding the security and well-being of children and adolescents. Developing protocols helps health care staff define the roles and responsibilities of individual members, summarize potential red flags of CSA, and describe strategies to best identify and address the health and safety needs of patients and their families, which should include a trauma-informed approach. Future work should focus on developing and evaluating new strategies to increase the capacity of the health sector to care for children experiencing CSA and optimizing ways to train staff. Further aims should also include improving research and evidence generation on the epidemiology and care of CSA in Latin America, including of male children and adolescents, minorities, and priority groups (e.g., migrant children, children with disabilities, street children, youth deprived of liberty, indigenous communities and the LGBTQI+ community).

Multidisciplinary Team Approach to Addressing Child Sexual Abuse at Nemours Children's Health, Delaware.

In 2019, 4.4 million referrals of maltreatment were made that affected approximately 7.9 million children. It was estimated that 9.3% of the referrals were related to child sexual abuse (CSA). To prevent negative psychosocial and health-related outcomes associated with CSA, CSA survivors often participate in a forensic interview, medical and behavioral health assessments, and behavioral health treatment while navigating other life disruptions or changing family dynamics precipitated by the CSA (e.g., change in custody or household, lack of contact with preparator, etc.). The assessment and treatment of pediatric survivors of CSA by multidisciplinary teams (MDT) can enhance families’ engagement and participation with the legal process, medical evaluation, and behavioral health services. This paper explores the Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware MDT’s approach to assessing and treating CSA, explores benefits and barriers associated with the current model, and discusses public health implications of a MDT approach to addressing CSA.

The emergence of political priority for addressing child sexual abuse in the United Kingdom

BackgroundChild sexual abuse (CSA) is widespread. Few countries, however, prioritize the issue. The United Kingdom is an exception, ranked first in its response to the issue in a 2019 country comparison. In 2015, Prime Minister David Cameron designated the issue one of three national threats. Funding commitments and policies to address CSA followed. ObjectiveTo investigate how CSA emerged as a national political priority in the United Kingdom, and to identify insights for proponents seeking to advance priority for addressing the issue. Participants and settingDocuments were analyzed and semi-structured interviews conducted with actors in the United Kingdom central to CSA advocacy, research, and/or programming, as well as with policymakers. MethodsDrawing on the multiple streams public policy model, a thematic analysis was conducted on collected documents (n = 160) and 21 interview transcripts. ResultsOur analysis delineates three critical developments that led to national prioritization for addressing CSA. First, high-profile scandals and the re-framing of CSA survivors as deserving of support raised public awareness of the problem. Second, champions concerned with CSA developed evidence-based and politically-feasible solutions. Third, the Prime Minister's concern and other political developments opened a policy window. ConclusionsThe case provides insights for proponents on generating political priority for addressing CSA. Proponents need to (1) ensure survivors are not seen as culpable but rather as deserving of support, (2) be ready with solutions and (3) cultivate high-level political support, so that when policy windows open they can jump to push the issue onto the national agenda.

Child Abuse in the Canadian and American Olympic Movement: Reforming Institutional Oversight of Amateur Sports

For many years, sexual abuse of young athletes quietly festered throughout amateur sport organizations in Canada and the United States. However, the veil has recently been lifted by the highly publicized testimonies of athletes sexually abused as minors by disgraced former USA Gymnastics (“USAG”) physician and Michigan State University professor Larry Nassar. The troubling details of these stories spurred investigations seeking to identify the causes behind the institutional failures to intervene in Nassar’s perpetration of abuse. The evidence gathered by these investigations alongside independent academic research reveal that unfettered predatory behaviour is a pervasive issue across the institutions responsible for overseeing the American Olympic movement and amateur sports. In addition, similar patterns of unchecked abuse have since been identified as plaguing Canadian Olympic and amateur sport organizations. This paper examines the institutional failures to address child sexual abuse occurring under the oversight of Olympic and amateur sport organizations in Canada and the United States. In both countries, efforts are currently underway to reform governance of these institutions to better protect minors participating in amateur sports. Accordingly, this paper also analyzes the policies implemented thus far and makes substantive recommendations on ideal federal level initiatives.

Child Abuse in the Canadian and American Olympic Movement: Reforming Institutional Oversight of Amateur Sports

For many years, sexual abuse of young athletes quietly festered throughout amateur sport organizations in Canada and the United States. However, the veil has recently been lifted by the highly publicized testimonies of athletes sexually abused as minors by disgraced former USA Gymnastics (“USAG”) physician and Michigan State University professor Larry Nassar. The troubling details of these stories spurred investigations seeking to identify the causes behind the institutional failures to intervene in Nassar’s perpetration of abuse. The evidence gathered by these investigations alongside independent academic research reveal that unfettered predatory behaviour is a pervasive issue across the institutions responsible for overseeing the American Olympic movement and amateur sports. In addition, similar patterns of unchecked abuse have since been identified as plaguing Canadian Olympic and amateur sport organizations. This paper examines the institutional failures to address child sexual abuse occurring under the oversight of Olympic and amateur sport organizations in Canada and the United States. In both countries, efforts are currently underway to reform governance of these institutions to better protect minors participating in amateur sports. Accordingly, this paper also analyzes the policies implemented thus far and makes substantive recommendations on ideal federal level initiatives.

New Horizons for the Journal: Familiar Landscapes in Child Protection

New Horizons for the Journal: Familiar Landscapes in Child Protection

Child Sexual Abuse by Members of the Catholic Church in Italy and France: A Literature Review of the Last Two Decades

ABSTRACT This article aims to provide an overview of the most recent research on child sexual abuse by members of the Catholic Church that occurred in Italy and France. The studies reported here have been selected as representative of major trends in the field. In particular, they illustrate the paths taken by current scholarship addressing child sexual abuse that has occurred in mono-confessional Catholic culture areas not yet affected by large-scale scandals. The assessment of the last two decades of literature shows that existing research attests the presence of regional patterns regarding the incidence of confirmed cases of abuse, the cover–up procedures, and the reactions of both ecclesiastical and civil institutions and society. However, this review also indicates that scholars have thus far neglected to problematize the local peculiarities of the phenomenon, and to relate them to the broader debate on regional variability in the articulation of modernization processes and religious vitality and power.

Future directions in child sexual abuse prevention: An Australian perspective

BackgroundChild sexual abuse is a problem of significant proportion in Australia and globally. Prevention efforts have tended to occur on an ad hoc basis and to be poorly evaluated. A measured, evidence-based public health approach to preventing child sexual abuse is necessary to enhance the prevention agenda. ObjectiveThe objective of this paper was to engage with the work of Letourneau and colleagues about a public health approach to child sexual abuse prevention from an Australian perspective. MethodsIn this commentary paper, following on from Letourneau and colleagues, policy resistance to addressing the problem of child sexual abuse and its prevention in the Australian context is explored. Promising pockets of research, policy and practice are described that indicate greater readiness and a lessening policy resistance to address child sexual abuse through a comprehensive public health approach. Finally, ideas for enhancing primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies in Australia are highlighted. ConclusionsThe Australian child sexual abuse prevention agenda would benefit from adopting a measured public health approach involving the design, implementation, and evaluation of primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions. Early intervention strategies are particularly underdeveloped in an Australian context.

Perceived Skill and Willingness to Address Child Sexual Abuse: Assessing Serbian and Montenegrin Pediatricians

ABSTRACTMost research on pediatricians’ reporting of child sexual abuse (CSA) is based in western countries. Only recently have studies focused on low-income countries. We are the first to survey pediatricians in Serbia and Montenegro on their encounters, competence and beliefs regarding CSA. Pediatricians in Serbia (n = 358) were recruited during a professional conference; pediatricians in Montenegro (n = 121) were sent an online survey. Demographic information was not obtained. Frequencies and percentages were calculated. A quarter of pediatricians in both countries felt competent detecting medical evidence of CSA. Twenty-seven percent in Serbia and 7% in Montenegro felt adequately trained to assess and diagnose CSA. Forty percent believed that CSA occurs predominately in poor, unstable or disorganized families. Twenty-nine percent in Montenegro and 15% in Serbia believed that complete strangers perpetrate CSA. Both Serbian (23%) and Montenegrin (30%) pediatricians were uncomfortable asking questions about possible abuse. One third of pediatricians in both countries were interested in further training. CSA is underreported at a concerning rate in Serbia and Montenegro, yet only a third of pediatricians in both countries were interested in further training. Future studies should focus on barriers to reporting in these regions, to increase awareness and competencies related to CSA.

Addressing Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Improvements in Understanding and Practice

Addressing Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Improvements in Understanding and Practice

Indigenous Perspectives on Operation RESET: An Initiative to Improve the Identification and Prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse Incidents in Remote Indigenous Communities

ObjectiveChild sexual abuse in remote Indigenous communities is prevalent and damaging, and finding solutions has been challenging. This study is an evaluation of Indigenous stakeholders’ experiences of an intervention aimed at addressing child sexual abuse in remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia.MethodNine interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis methodology. Interviewees included family members of children who had been sexually abused, and Indigenous service providers who lived in the communities.ResultsThree broad themes emerged from the analysis: communication, action and presence, and working together to address child sexual abuse. Stakeholders described how the engagement with the team was respectful and collaborative, communication and service provision were excellent and stakeholders felt that they had a strong part to play in the process. Engagement, trust, warm relationships, and excellent outcomes were strong features of this initiative.ConclusionsThe operation was seen as a new way of working together, and was strongly endorsed by the Indigenous participants interviewed in this study.

Child Sexual Abuse and HIV-Related Substance Use and Sexual Risk Across the Life Course Among Males and Females

ABSTRACTChild sexual abuse is associated with substance use and sexual risk behaviors during adolescence and adulthood, but no known studies have documented associations across the life course in a nationally representative U.S. sample. We used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to measure associations between child sexual abuse and substance use and sexual risk behaviors during adolescence, young adulthood, and adulthood among males and females (n = 11,820). Approximately 10% of females and 7% of males reported child sexual abuse. Associations with substance use were strongest during adolescence and lessened over time. Increased odds of sexual risk among those with a history of child sexual abuse remained consistent through the life course. Significant gender differences existed for some associations (e.g., adulthood multiple partners: males adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.73, 95%CI:1.18, 2.53; females AOR = 1.11, 95%CI:0.79, 1.56). Trauma-informed prevention interventions should address child sexual abuse among both males and females to prevent substance use and sexual risk behavior throughout the life course.

Adopting a public health approach to addressing child sexual abuse and exploitation

Adopting a public health approach to addressing child sexual abuse and exploitation