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.References
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2. Bergner, R.M., Delgado, L.K. and Graybull, D. (1994), ‘Finkelhor’s Risk Factor Checklist: a Cross Validation Study’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 18: 331-340.
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8. Finkelhor, D. and Baron, L. (1986), ‘High Risk Children’. In: D. Avaji, L. Baron, A. Browne, S. Peters and G. Wyatt (Eds), A Resource Book for Child Sexual Abuse, 60-88. California: Sage Publishers.
9. Finkelhor, D., Moore, D., Hamby, S.L. and Straus (1997), ‘Sexually Abused Children in a National Sample of Parents: Methodological Issues’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 21: 1-9.
10. Global Action for Children (2005), Child Sexual Abuse, Washington D.C.
11. Gruber, K. and Jones, R. (1983), ‘Identifying Determinants of Risk of Sexual Victimisation of Youth’, Child Sexual Abuse and Neglect, 7: 17-24.
12. Hopper, J. (2009), Child Sexual Abuse: Statistics, Research and Resources, www.jimhopper.com.
13. Human Rights Watch (2002), Suffering in Silence: The Links between Human Rights Abusers and HIV Transmission to Girls in Zambia. New York: Human Rights Watch.
14. Lalor, K. (2004), ‘Child Abuse in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Literature Review’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 28: 439-460.
15. Lehrer, S.A., Lehrer, V.L., Lehrer, E.L. and Oyarzun, P. (2007), ‘Survey on the Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Sexual Victimisation in College Women in Chile’, International Family Planning Perspectives, 33 (4): 168-175.
16. Madu, S.N. and Peltzer, K. (2000), ‘Risk Factors and Sexual Abuse among High School Students in the Northern Province of South Africa’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 24: 259-268.
17. Rose, D.S. (1986), ‘Worse the Death. Psychodynamics of Rape Victims and the Need for Psychotherapy’, American Journal of Psychiatry, 143 (7): 817-824.
18. Sanderson, J. (2004), ‘Child Focused Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs: How Effective are they in Preventing Child Abuse?’ Research and Issues Paper, Series 5. Queensland: Crime and Misconduct Commission.
19. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (2001), Analysis of the Situation of Sexual Exploitation of Children in the Eastern and Southern African Region, www.focalpointngo.org/yokohama/latestnews/CSECEastSouthernAfricaDraft.
20. Vale, G.L. (1996), ‘Dentistry, Bite Marks and the Investigation of Crime’, Journal of Californian Dentistry, 24 (5): 29-34.
21. World Health Organisation (2002), ‘World Report on Violence and Health’, Geneva, World Health Organisation.
22. Young Women’s Christian Association of Zambia (1999), Incest. Confronting the Hidden Crime in Zambia: A Study by the Young Women’s Christian Association of Zambia. Young Women’s Christian Association, Lusaka.
2. Bergner, R.M., Delgado, L.K. and Graybull, D. (1994), ‘Finkelhor’s Risk Factor Checklist: a Cross Validation Study’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 18: 331-340.
3. Bierre, J. (1992), ‘Child Maltreatment Interview Schedule-Short Form’. In: Child Abuse Trauma: Theory and Treatment of the Lasting Effects. Newbury: Sage Publishers.
4. Chiroro, P., Tendayi, G.V., Frodi, A., Muromo, T. and Tsigah, A. (2006), ‘Nature and Prevalence of Childhood Sexual Abuse among High School Girls and College Students in Zimbabwe’, Journal of Psychology in Africa, 1: 17-26.
5. Chomba, E., Murray, L., Kautzman, M., Haworth, A., Bota, M.K., Kankasa, C., Mwansa, K., Amaya, M., Thea, D. and Semraua, K. (2010), ‘Review Article: Integration of Services for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse at the University Teaching Hospital One-Stop Centre’, Journal of Tropical Medicine.
6. Cohen, J., Mannarino, P.A. and Deblinger, E. (2006), Treating Trauma and Traumatic Grief in Children and Adolescents. New York: The Guilford Press.
7. Ferguson, M.D., Lynsky, T.M. and Horwood, L.J. (1996), ‘Childhood Sexual Abuse and Psychiatric Disorder in Young Adulthood: Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse and Factors Associated with Sexual Abuse’, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35: 1355-1364.
8. Finkelhor, D. and Baron, L. (1986), ‘High Risk Children’. In: D. Avaji, L. Baron, A. Browne, S. Peters and G. Wyatt (Eds), A Resource Book for Child Sexual Abuse, 60-88. California: Sage Publishers.
9. Finkelhor, D., Moore, D., Hamby, S.L. and Straus (1997), ‘Sexually Abused Children in a National Sample of Parents: Methodological Issues’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 21: 1-9.
10. Global Action for Children (2005), Child Sexual Abuse, Washington D.C.
11. Gruber, K. and Jones, R. (1983), ‘Identifying Determinants of Risk of Sexual Victimisation of Youth’, Child Sexual Abuse and Neglect, 7: 17-24.
12. Hopper, J. (2009), Child Sexual Abuse: Statistics, Research and Resources, www.jimhopper.com.
13. Human Rights Watch (2002), Suffering in Silence: The Links between Human Rights Abusers and HIV Transmission to Girls in Zambia. New York: Human Rights Watch.
14. Lalor, K. (2004), ‘Child Abuse in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Literature Review’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 28: 439-460.
15. Lehrer, S.A., Lehrer, V.L., Lehrer, E.L. and Oyarzun, P. (2007), ‘Survey on the Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Sexual Victimisation in College Women in Chile’, International Family Planning Perspectives, 33 (4): 168-175.
16. Madu, S.N. and Peltzer, K. (2000), ‘Risk Factors and Sexual Abuse among High School Students in the Northern Province of South Africa’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 24: 259-268.
17. Rose, D.S. (1986), ‘Worse the Death. Psychodynamics of Rape Victims and the Need for Psychotherapy’, American Journal of Psychiatry, 143 (7): 817-824.
18. Sanderson, J. (2004), ‘Child Focused Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs: How Effective are they in Preventing Child Abuse?’ Research and Issues Paper, Series 5. Queensland: Crime and Misconduct Commission.
19. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (2001), Analysis of the Situation of Sexual Exploitation of Children in the Eastern and Southern African Region, www.focalpointngo.org/yokohama/latestnews/CSECEastSouthernAfricaDraft.
20. Vale, G.L. (1996), ‘Dentistry, Bite Marks and the Investigation of Crime’, Journal of Californian Dentistry, 24 (5): 29-34.
21. World Health Organisation (2002), ‘World Report on Violence and Health’, Geneva, World Health Organisation.
22. Young Women’s Christian Association of Zambia (1999), Incest. Confronting the Hidden Crime in Zambia: A Study by the Young Women’s Christian Association of Zambia. Young Women’s Christian Association, Lusaka.
Published
2012-03-31
How to Cite
Mutaka, M. and Imasiku, M. (2012) “Risk Factors and Child Sexual Abuse among High School Pupils in Lusaka District, Zambia”, Journal of Law and Social Sciences, 1(1), pp. 17-31. doi: https://doi.org/10.53974/unza.jlss.1.1.361.
Section
Social Sciences