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Child Sexual Abuse: Community Concerns in Urban Tanzania

Kisanga, Felix ; Nystrom, Lennarth ; Hogan, Nora and Emmelin, Maria LU (2011) In Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 20(2). p.196-217
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore community perceptions about child sexual abuse in Tanzania. Thirteen focus group discussions were conducted with adult community members. The core category, children's rights challenged by lack of agency, was supported by eight categories. Aware but distressed portrayed feelings of hopelessness, lack of trust in the healthcare and legal systems reflected perceived malpractice, decreased respect for children's rights referred to poor parental care and substance abuse, myths justifying CSA illustrated cultural beliefs to rationalize child sexual abuse, disclosure threatened by fear of stigma and discrimination aligned the manifestations that prevent disclosure, actions driven by economic circumstances... (More)
The aim of this study was to explore community perceptions about child sexual abuse in Tanzania. Thirteen focus group discussions were conducted with adult community members. The core category, children's rights challenged by lack of agency, was supported by eight categories. Aware but distressed portrayed feelings of hopelessness, lack of trust in the healthcare and legal systems reflected perceived malpractice, decreased respect for children's rights referred to poor parental care and substance abuse, myths justifying CSA illustrated cultural beliefs to rationalize child sexual abuse, disclosure threatened by fear of stigma and discrimination aligned the manifestations that prevent disclosure, actions driven by economic circumstances described the economical dependence of victims, urging a change in procedures reflected informants' wish to ally with local governance and pressure groups, and willingness to act indicated the community's role in supporting victims. The study showed how lack of agency calls for efforts to increase children's human rights at all levels. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
child sexual abuse, community perceptions, justice, Tanzania
in
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
volume
20
issue
2
pages
196 - 217
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000288956000005
  • scopus:79953201913
  • pmid:21442533
ISSN
1053-8712
DOI
10.1080/10538712.2011.555356
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a51df43c-f3a1-42c8-a57d-f8243ea4e643 (old id 1918465)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:04:04
date last changed
2022-02-04 02:13:44
@article{a51df43c-f3a1-42c8-a57d-f8243ea4e643,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this study was to explore community perceptions about child sexual abuse in Tanzania. Thirteen focus group discussions were conducted with adult community members. The core category, children's rights challenged by lack of agency, was supported by eight categories. Aware but distressed portrayed feelings of hopelessness, lack of trust in the healthcare and legal systems reflected perceived malpractice, decreased respect for children's rights referred to poor parental care and substance abuse, myths justifying CSA illustrated cultural beliefs to rationalize child sexual abuse, disclosure threatened by fear of stigma and discrimination aligned the manifestations that prevent disclosure, actions driven by economic circumstances described the economical dependence of victims, urging a change in procedures reflected informants' wish to ally with local governance and pressure groups, and willingness to act indicated the community's role in supporting victims. The study showed how lack of agency calls for efforts to increase children's human rights at all levels.}},
  author       = {{Kisanga, Felix and Nystrom, Lennarth and Hogan, Nora and Emmelin, Maria}},
  issn         = {{1053-8712}},
  keywords     = {{child sexual abuse; community perceptions; justice; Tanzania}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{196--217}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Child Sexual Abuse}},
  title        = {{Child Sexual Abuse: Community Concerns in Urban Tanzania}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2011.555356}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/10538712.2011.555356}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}