Risk Factors and Child Sexual Abuse among High School Pupils in Lusaka District, Zambia

Abstract

Child sexual abuse is a universal problem that affects both boys and girls. In Zambia, like many other African countries, there are certain conditions and circumstances that put children at risk of sexual abuse. However, these risk factors remain explored (Chiroro et al., 2006). This study, therefore, was aimed at investigating risk factors and exploring child sexual abuse in Lusaka District. Specifically, it focused on identifying the forms of sexual abuse; examine the factors that put children at risk for sexual abuse; find out the grooming tactics used by sexual abusers; find out the disclosure rate for child sexual abuse cases; examine the abuser-victim relationships; and make recommendations for child sexual abuse prevention. Participants were 200 secondary school pupils (86 males and 114 females), who were randomly selected. Their ages ranged from sixteen to twenty-one years. Data was collected using a structured selfreport questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results show an overall prevalence rate of child sexual abuse to be 43.5 per cent (n=87). Of the 87 victims, 41.1 per cent (n=36) were males and 58.6 per cent (n=51) were females. Among the forms of sexual abuse, sexual touch/arousal had the highest frequency (n=54, 62.1%). Most of the subjects (75.6%, n=19) did not disclose their sexual experiences, whereas only 24.4 per cent (n=19) did. Most abusers were found to be family members (n=39, 44%). Six risk factors for sexual abuse were examined, and the most powerful one was parental absence (n=63, 73.3%); having punitive parents (n=57, 68.7%); alcohol intake by a parent or other guardian (n=30, 34.5%); poor parent-child relationship (n=20, 23.7%); parental conflict (n=19, 22.4%); and presence of a stepparent (n=13, 13.1%). Furthermore, the results obtained from the FGDs show that the most frequently used trick for sexual abuse is the offer of money and/other gifts (n=21, 67.8%). Fifty-six (69%) of the victims lacked knowledge to know that the grooming they experienced would result into sexual abuse. The study tested two hypotheses: (a) alcohol intake by the parent or guardian is not a significant risk factor for child sexual abuse; (b) in Lusaka District, children and adolescents that are sexually abused have adequate knowledge of the grooming tactics used by abusers. The results showed that: (a) there is a significant relationship (p=0.004) between child sexual abuse and parental or guardian intake of alcohol; (b) there is a significant relationship (p=0.000) between child sexual abuse and children’s lack of knowledge of the grooming tactics used by sexual abusers. Recommendations made include: (a) teacher training in the area of child sexual abuse; (b) encouragement of research culture among Zambian scholars in the area of child sexual abuse; and (c) active involvement of children, parents, teachers and the government in the prevention of child sexual abuse.