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

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-31
Author(s):  
Maryn Mutaka ◽  
Mwiya I Imasiku

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.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Maranga ◽  
Patrick Onyango ◽  
Dickens Omondi

Abstract Child sexual abuse is a public health problem with negative physical, mental, behavioral and learning outcomes to survivors. Recent Kenya Demographic Health Survey showed that 22% of women and 13% of men in western Kenya have experienced sexual abuse compared to 14% women and 6% men nationally. Its burden, predisposing factors and, sources of or reasons for differential exposure for boys are yet unclear. Whereas schools have a major influence on a child’s development and behavior, they have been identified as important settings where child sexual abuse might occur. However, how sexual abuse is patterned by type and location of school remains an open question. The present study investigated risk factors of sexual abuse among school-going children in primary schools in Kisumu County. Using a cross-sectional study design and guided by the ecological model, the study determined association between type of school and sexual abuse; association between location of school and sexual abuse, and spaces that predispose school-going children to sexual abuse in primary schools. A sample of 398 pupils aged between 10 – 16 years randomly identified participants from 37 pre-selected primary schools in Kisumu Central and Kisumu West sub-Counties was used. The schools had been stratified by location (rural and urban) and type (public or private, boarding or day). Parental permission was sought for respective pupils to participate in the study. Data from pupils was collected using self-administered questionnaires and focus group discussions, and key informant interviews from guidance and counseling teachers. The mean age of participants was 13 years. More pupils attended day schools than boarding schools (88% versus 12%; p= 0.017). Forced sex (29%) was the most common type of sexual abuse. More girls than boys had ever experienced any type of sexual abuse 29% versus 20%; p=0.038. Whereas there was no statistical difference in pupils’ experience of sexual abuse by type and location of school x2= 2.044; p>0.05 and x2= 0.823 p>0.05, pupils thought that attending public day schools is associated with higher risk for sexual abuse mainly while walking to and from home. Pupils cited bushes inside school (52%), latrines/toilets (51%) and bushes outside school (50%) as spaces where one is more likely to experience sexual abuse. Being a female pupil was the most significant risk factor for sexual abuse in the primary schools surveyed. This indicates that gendered predisposition plays an important role in occurrence of sexual abuse in primary schools. Though not statistically significant in this study, it is plausible that risky spaces and type of schools might modify female gender predisposition in subtler ways as suggested from the pupils’ perspectives. There is need for a gendered focus in a complex primary schooling environment


Author(s):  
N.B. Migacheva

Обоснование. Нарушение кожного микробиоценоза и колонизация кожи S. aureus при атопическом дерматите (АтД) является широко распространенным феноменом и фактором, осложняющим течение заболевания. В настоящее время не вполне понятно, какую роль играет S. aureus в реализации АтД у детей из группы риска по развитию аллергических заболеваний. Цель. Изучение состава кожного микробиоценоза у детей раннего возраста из группы риска, а также роли S. aureus в дисфункции кожного барьера и реализации АтД. Материалы и методы. Проведен анализ 12-месячного наблюдения за 37 детьми из группы риска по развитию аллергических заболеваний, включающий общеклиническое обследование, проведение микробиологического исследования кожи в возрасте 1 и 6 мес и изучение функции эпидермального барьера путем определения показателя трансэпидермальной потери влаги (ТЭПВ) в возрасте 1 3 6 и 12 мес. В качестве исхода рассматривалось формирование АтД в течение периода наблюдения. Результаты. Частота выявления S. aureus на коже детей в возрасте 1 мес составила 45,9, в возрасте 6 мес - 29,7. Корреляционный анализ выявил ассоциацию между колонизацией кожи S. aureus и снижением показателей ТЭПВ (р0,004), а также частотой развития у них АтД (p0,001). Заключение. Обнаружение S. aureus в кожном микробиоценозе детей из группы риска ассоциировано с дисфункцией эпидермального барьера и является значимым фактором риска реализации у них АтД.Background. Colonization of skin with S. aureus in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients is a widespread phenomenon and a factor complicating the course of the disease. At present, it is not quite clear the role of S. aureus in the development of AD in children at risk. The aim of our study was to discribe the skin microbiome composition in young children at risk, as well as to investigate the role of S. aureus in skin barrier dysfunction and the development of AD. Material and methods. 12months follow-up study of 37 infants at risk has been performed. It included a general clinical examination, a microbiological investigation of skin microbiome (at 1 and 6 months), and investigation of epidermal barrier function by determining the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Realization of AD during the observation period was considered as main outcome. Results. The prevalence of S. aureus colonization of infants aged 1 month was 45.9, at the age of 6 months - 29.7. Correlation analysis revealed an association between the skin colonization with S. aureus and a decrease of TEWL (p 0.004), as well as the cumulative incidence of AD (p 0.001). Conclusion. The detection of S. aureus as a part of skin microbiocenosis in AD infants at risk is associated with dysfunction of the epidermal barrier and is a significant risk factor for the AD development.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethel Quayle ◽  
Nikolaos Koukopoulos

Abstract ‘Cyberspace’ has added a dimension to the ecology of the child and should be a starting point for practitioners (including police) to think about digital media in the context of child sexual abuse. While there is no evidence to suggest that online abuse and exploitation is a more serious offence than crimes occurring offline, the behaviours enabled by social media may present a significant risk factor for some children. This article gives a brief overview of the phenomena and prevalence of online child sexual abuse and exploitation and the role that the Internet may play. This is considered in relation to deterrence, prevention and management of these crimes, and further develops a public health approach to online child abuse and exploitation. Finally, the article critically considers emerging evidence to support this interaction between the individual and the online environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
Philemon Shallie ◽  
Firoza Haffejee

Background: The trail of the transmission of COVID-19 in Africa needs to be understood and conceptualized. With the limited response time to curb the transmission, the pandemic is already in 52 countries in Africa. There is much anxiety about the devastating potential of this scourge in Africa, justifiably so because of the weak health systems, high levels of poverty, and overcrowded cities. Therefore, this report examined the association between the confirmed cases at 100 days of COVID-19 and some significant risk factors in 19 African countries that had at least 100 confirmed cases as of 09 April 2020. Materials and Methods: We evaluated four major risk factors associated with COVID-19 confirmed cases in 19 African counties with over 100 cases in 100 days after the official declaration of COVID-19 by WHO. Results: Three of the four risk factors (total population in urban areas, population age, and international exposure) correlated positively with the number of COVID-19 cases. In contrast, one (public health system) correlated negatively with the number of confirmed cases in the countries under study. International exposure was initially the main transmitter of the infection, but community transmission now becomes the driver of COVID-19 infections on the continent. Conclusion: Identification of confirmed cases, quick contact tracing with self-isolation, community engagement, and health systems measures are all-necessary to prevent the potentially harmful ramifications of an epidemic on the continent. There is, therefore, the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach between the government and society.


Author(s):  
Jyoti Mishra Pandey ◽  
Abhishek Pandey ◽  
Preeti Mishra

The current chapter will focus on how serious this concern is and how this can be identified and overcome with different psychological methods or techniques. Childhood is a phase of innocence. The darker side of the world is yet to be known to them. Sexual abuse and violence is seen to occur in all ages, in all socioeconomic classes, and nearly in all countries with some differences in the magnitude. Consequences of child sexual abuse and violence include impaired lifelong physical and mental health. Many a times a person who was sexually abused in his/her childhood remains have some experiences that haunt them may be throughout his/her life. These may be guilt or shame of not able to stop the abuser or didn't tell it to others. Sexual abuse in children is very difficult to identify and may even harder to see. Knowledge of the risk factors for child maltreatment can be used to identify children at risk and may represent opportunities for prevention. Preventing child maltreatment before it starts is possible and requires a multidimensional approach.


Author(s):  
H Vawda ◽  
H Woodward ◽  
K Harvey ◽  
R Vithlani ◽  
P Mano ◽  
...  

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