Child Sexual Abuse and Situational Context: Children’s Experiences in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
Abstract
Although substantial literature exists on child sexual abuse
(CSA), little is known about abuses children encounter in northern
Uganda, a post-conflict area. Media reports have indicated
a high incidence for CSA. The study, firstly, explored boys’ and
girls’ experiences of sexual abuse by adults in this post-conflict
region and secondly, interventions directed at improving the
current situation of children at risk of child abuse and the
survivors were investigated as well. The study was guided by
radical feminism and nested ecological framework theories.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted involving 43 sexually
abused children. Narrative responses were audio recorded
and transcribed. Content qualitative analysis was used to
understand sexual offenses from children’s perspectives.
Participants mentioned the following as the most perilous
situations; laxity in parental roles, cultural norms, and practices,
patriarchal attitudes, child sexual desires and attitudes, family
breakdown and alcoholism. The study found many reported
cases of CSA in the region. The results imply the exigent need
of separate units specifically for reporting and handling child
sexual offenses, need for personnel training on gender issues
and filing system in child protection agencies and family programs
for both fathers and mothers on child protection strategies
for prevention and mitigation of CSA.
Description
Keywords
Children, Gender issues, Sexual abuse, Intervention
Citation
Anicent Nyangoma, Florence Ebila & Julius Omona (2019): Child Sexual Abuse and Situational Context: Children’s Experiences in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2019.1660445