scholarly journals Counseling Sexually Abused Children: Lessons from Ghana and Zambia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nyuiemedi Agordzo Edoh-Torgah ◽  
Marien Matafwala
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Social Self ◽  
Professional Counseling ◽  
Support Unit ◽  
Counseling Training ◽  
Damage Repair ◽  
Effective Counseling ◽  
Sexually Abused Children

The scourge of child sexual abuse has been on the increase world over, Ghana and Zambia inclusive with millions of children being sexually abused every year at a global prevalence rate of 34.4%. Using the qualitative narrative approach, the interview guide was used to gather data purposively from 112 participants made up of 40 Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit officers, 32 parents and 40 victims aged 8–17 years who reported their abuse at 15 police stations across Central Region and Lusaka Province of Ghana and Zambia respectively. Data were thematically analyzed. The study found among others that children in both countries received safety nets and pieces of advice on legal and medical procedures. It also found that some victims expressed happiness at their abuses being reported and heard. However, lack of professional counseling training and power imbalances inhibit the police officers’ efforts. The study concludes that though officers use some skills and provide a kind of trauma counseling more is needed in the areas of individual and group therapy for comprehensive and effective counseling. Skills such as encouragement, assertiveness, and re-assurance can lead to disclosure, prevent future sexual abuse, reduce anxiety and fear, promote healing and empowerment. When children receive adequate counseling immediately after abuse they do immediate damage repair both of their psychological and social “self”. The study recommends training in counseling for the officers in both countries for effective counseling of abused individuals. Additionally, officers should be linked with professional counsellors at universities to refer abuse cases for treatment.

scholarly journals Maternal History of Child Sexual Abuse and Maladaptive Outcomes in Sexually Abused Children: The Role of Maternal Mental Health

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110139
Author(s):  
Rachel Langevin ◽  
Martine Hébert ◽  
Audrey Kern
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Abused Children ◽  
Maternal History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sexually Abused Children

The effects of child sexual abuse (CSA) have been found to surpass generations as maternal history of CSA is associated with increased difficulties in sexually abused children. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this association. The present study aimed to test maternal mental health symptoms including psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and dissociation as mediators of the relationship between maternal CSA and children’s internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms in a large sample of sexually abused children. A total of 997 sexually abused children aged 3-14 years old and their mothers were recruited at five specialized intervention centers offering services to sexually abused children and their families. The children were divided into two groups depending on their mothers’ self-reported history of CSA. Mothers completed a series of questionnaires assessing their mental health and children’s functioning. Maternal history of CSA was associated with increased maternal psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and dissociation following children’s disclosure of CSA. In turn, maternal psychological distress and maternal dissociation were associated with increased child internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms. Maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with child internalizing symptoms. Maternal mental health difficulties mediated the association between maternal CSA and sexually abused children’s maladaptive outcomes. Clinicians should assess for possible history of CSA in mothers of sexually abused children and determine how best to support them to cope with the aftermaths of their child’s disclosure and with their own traumatic past.

scholarly journals Experiences of mothers of sexually abused children in North-West province, post disclosure

Curationis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaboipolelwe M. Masilo ◽  
Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Secondary Trauma ◽  
Emotional Pain ◽  
Abused Children ◽  
North West ◽  
South African Police Service ◽  
The North ◽  
North West Province ◽  
Sexually Abused Children

Background: Sexual violence against children is increasing at an alarming rate in South Africa. In 2010 the South African Police Service (SAPS) reported 21 538 rape cases of children under 18 years. In the North-West province (NWP) 5039 incidents of rape cases were reported in 2009. Mothers often experience emotional pain following child sexual abuse disclosure. It is seldom acknowledged that these mothers experience trauma and need support, post disclosure. The researcher has no known evidence of research conducted on the experiences of these mothers in NWP. Objective: The objective of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of mothers of sexually abused children post disclosure of the abuse. Method: The research design was qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual. Purposive sampling was used to select mothers of sexually abused children aged 23 to 59 years whose children ranged from 0 to 16 years. Permission to conduct the study was sought from the Provincial Department of Health and informed consent was obtained from the mothers. Interviews were conducted with a sample of n = 17 until data saturation. Data were collected through in-depth interviews using a voice recorder and field notes to enhance triangulation. Tesch’s method of open coding was used to analyse data. Results: Findings indicated that mothers experienced emotional pain post sexual abuse. They expressed shock, anger and guilt for not noticing the abuse. They showed significant depression as a result of lack of support by stakeholders. Conclusion: Mothers experienced secondary trauma that poses social and psychological challenges with far-reaching implications.

Medical Evaluation of Sexually Abused Children: A Review of 311 Cases

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14
Author(s):  
Mary Ellen Rimsza ◽  
Elaine H. Niggemann
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Physical Examination ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Abused Children ◽  
Medical Evaluation ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Victims Of Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexually Abused Children

The case records of 311 children and adolescents who were medically evaluated for sexual abuse are reviewed. Only 18% of these victims were assaulted by strangers; 131 of the assailants were relatives. Thirty percent of the victims reported multiple assaults over a time period of one week to nine years. Physical examination showed no abnormalities in only 23% of the patients. Twenty-one patients had gonorrhea and seven patients were pregnant. Guidelines for the medical evaluation of patients suspected to be victims of sexual abuse are discussed.

Sexual Abuse of Children: Implications for Practice

1981 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 601-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon R. Conte ◽  
Lucy Berliner
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Descriptive Data ◽  
Abused Children ◽  
Sexually Abused Children

Descriptive data on sexually abused children confirm that most children are abused by members or acquaintances of their own families. Social work services for victims should include efforts to protect the child from further abuse, and insure that the child, non-abusing parent, and sex offender receive services.

Genitalia in Children's Drawings: An Association With Sexual Abuse

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta A. Hibbard ◽  
Klaus Roghmann ◽  
Robert A. Hoekelman
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Well Child Care ◽  
Sexual Abuse Victims ◽  
Sexually Abused Children

Many sexual abuse victims have been observed to draw genitalia on human figures. To test the hypothesis that sexually abused children draw genitalia on human figures more often than do nonabused children, drawings from 57 children, 3 through 7 years of age, who were referred to child protective services as alleged sexual abuse victims, were compared with drawings from an age-, sex-, race-, and socioeconomically matched group of 55 nonabused children receiving well-child care in medical settings. A standardized procedure to obtain drawings was followed by a structured interview to collect demographic, past medical, and developmental information. Five evaluators unaware of the children's backgrounds independently examined drawings for the presence or absence of five body parts; there was 94% agreement for all body parts and 93% agreement for genitalia. Eight children were excluded from the analysis because they only scribbled (n = 5) or because evaluators could not agree on whether genitalia were present in their drawings (n = 3). Ten percent (5/52) of the alleged sexual abuse victims and 2% (1/52) of the comparison children drew genitalia (P = .10, one-tailed Fisher exact test). The estimated relative risk was 5.4; that is, alleged sexual abuse victims were 5.4 times more likely to draw genitalia than were comparison children. Children known to have been sexually abused were 6.8 times more likely to draw genitalia than were comparison children (P = .07, one-tailed Fisher exact test). It must be cautioned that, although the presence of genitalia in a child's drawing should alert one to consider the possibility of sexual abuse, it does not prove it, just as the absence of genitalia does not exclude abuse. The drawing of genitalia should sensitize providers and influence the effort directed toward exploring the possibility of sexual abuse.

Working with sexually abused children: Insights from adult survivors

1995 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 15-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Darlington
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Adult Survivors ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Abused Children ◽  
Fear Of Rejection ◽  
Physical Resistance ◽  
Sexually Abused Children

In a qualitative study of adult women's experiences of having been sexually abused as children, research participants reported their recollections of their responses, as children, to sexual abuse and of their relationships with mothers and peers.Childhood responses to sexual abuse included attempts to escape, fear, guilt and shame. Attempts to escape encompassed physical resistance as well as mental processes, such as daydreaming and dissociation. Despite numerous such attempts to escape, in the context of immobilising fear, many still blamed themselves for the sexual abuse. Many also experienced shame, a profound sense of exposure and humiliation. Relationships with mothers were dominated by feelings of loss and betrayal which, in several cases, had persisted into adulthood. Relationships with peers were characterised by isolation, with underlying fear of rejection and humiliation. Physical and verbal abuse, by a wider range of perpetrators, was common.Several conclusions for therapy with sexually abused children are drawn: Attention to the full range of attempts to escape sexual abuse, in the context of immobilising fear, could help dispel children's sense of guilt about sexual abuse. The experiences of guilt and shame should both be addressed. In not blaming mothers for sexual abuse, any negative aspects of the child's experience of his or her relationship with mother should not be inadvertently minimised. The fear of exposure or rejection underlying poor peer relationships should be addressed as part of attempts at improving peer relationships. Isolation accruing from other forms of child abuse by a wider range of perpetrators needs to be addressed.

scholarly journals Benzodiazepine addiction and child sexual abuse

1989 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 547-547
Author(s):  
Bisa Haeger
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Drug Addiction ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Abused Children ◽  
Addictive Behaviour ◽  
Addictive Potential ◽  
Sexually Abused Children

There is now an extensive literature on benzodiazepines (over 18,400 publications since 1966), particularly regarding their addictive potential (Feely, 1988). The importance of this finding lies in prescribing as well as in the treatment of existing addiction. However, psychological factors are also important in the maintenance of addictive behaviour and one should not assume that all are recognised. For example, it is known that drugs are used to reward children employed by the pornographic industry and that sexually abused children can develop drug addiction (Burgess et al., 1984). There are now over 300 publications on child sexual abuse but none linking it with benzodiazepine addiction specifically. This is the first one.

scholarly journals Child Sexual Abuse in Pakistan: Evidence-informed Policy Framework

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Saleem Abbas
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Policy Response ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Abused Children ◽  
Development Approach ◽  
Sexually Abused Children

Abstract Current policy response towards issue of child sexual abuse in Pakistan is not strategic and evidence-informed but incidents based and populist. Moreover, socio-economic, cultural and political factors influences also influence the policy response for addressing the problem of child sexual abuse (CSA). This study is an attempt to suggest the evidence-informed best practices regarding preventive and curative aspects of child sexual abuse in a policy framework. Using ICAST-R tool, 18-24 years old 274 university students were asked about their experiences of sexual abuse during childhood. After critical analysis of policy a rational and evidence-informed policy based on child rights framework and community development approach is proposed for identification of CSA, its prevention, addressing cultural barriers, responding to reported cases and other aspects. Overall, 41.69% respondents were sexually abused with one or other form of sexual abuse. Experience of CSA was reported more frequently by boys than girls. Only 34.21% of sexually abused children disclosed to someone and 65.78% victims of sexual abuse never disclosed the experience of sexual abuse to anyone. Among the victims of abuse who disclosed the abuse to someone only 12.82% disclosed within a day. Majority of disclosures (50.98%) were made to friend/peer, followed by parents (11.76%) and siblings (7.84%). Very small percentage of victims reported the abuse to doctor (3.92%), police (1.96%) or a counselor / social worker (1.96%).

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