Child Sexual Abuse Presentation PDF 2024

Child Sexual Abuse PSY 304 Introduction  Global statistics reveal that one in five women and one in thirteen men report they were sexually abused as a child aged 0-17 years (WHO, 2020)  Violence against women and children, particularly child sexual abuse (CSA) remains a crit...

Child Sexual Abuse PSY 304 Introduction  Global statistics reveal that one in five women and one in thirteen men report they were sexually abused as a child aged 0-17 years (WHO, 2020)  Violence against women and children, particularly child sexual abuse (CSA) remains a critical public health, human rights, and humanitarian- related issue in South Africa.  The sexual abuse and exploitation of children violate human rights and is a public health problem with significant consequences for global health and development (UNICEF, 2020)  South Africa has a high prevalence of child sexual abuse (Naidoo & Van Hout, 2022; Artz & Ward, 2018 cited in Mabetse et al, 2022), and there is documented evidence of high prevalence in the last decade. Definition  The World Health Organization (WHO, 1999) defines child sexual abuse (CSA) as involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society.  This definition encompasses the universal criterion, the involvement of a child in sexual behaviours/activities that the child is neither physically nor mentally prepared, and who lacks the capacity to consent, as well as the legal standards specific to each country (Stoltenborgh, van Ijzendoorn, Euser, & Bakermans- Kranenburg, 2011) Prevalence of child sexual abuse in South Africa  CSA is a stark reality worldwide  Common across large and small communities, range of cultures and socio- economic backgrounds  Affects both boys and girls  Females are five times more likely to be abused than males ( Ibrahim et al, 2017)  The 2019/2020 Annual Crime Statistics presented by the South African Police Service (SAPS)  One in five children are victims of sexual abuse, representing 19.8%, compared to a global average of 18% for girls and 8% for boys.  Optimus Study provides the first national estimates of sexual abuse and other forms of violence against children in South Africa (Ward et al., 2018). The study highlighted widespread sexual abuse of children; 36.8% of boys and 33.9% of girls reported having experienced some form of sexual abuse at some point in their lives (Ward et al., 2018) CSA prevalence  Age is a significant factor in sexual abuse. While there is risk for children of all ages, children are most vulnerable to abuse between the ages of 7 and 13 (Ibrahim et al, 2017)  Most child sexual abusers are men, and may be respected members of the community drawn to settings where they gain easy access to children like schools, clubs and churches. They come from all age groups, races, religions and socioeconomic classes Indications of CSA  Disclosure is the most obvious indication of sexual abuse.  Age-inappropriate sexual behaviour or excessively sexualized behaviour might be an indicator of abuse. Indirect signs can include any of the following:  Acting out (with aggression or anger);  Withdrawal;  Regression;  Fears, phobias, and anxiety;  Sleep disturbance or nightmares;  Changes in eating habits; Indications of CSA  Altered school performance  Mood disturbances;  Enuresis or encopresis;  Running away;  Self-destructive behaviour; or  Antisocial behaviour Risk factors  It happens alongside other forms of abuse or neglect  Environments which may have low family support/ high stress  Parental substance abuse  Family structure  Domestic violence  Children living in conflict and post conflict environment  Child soldiers  Children in detention  Children with disabilities Consequences  The trauma of child sexual abuse (CSA) has long been assumed to be a potent risk factor for the development of psychopathology CSA- Consequences and implications  Reactions to sexual abuse differ  Different consequences , depending on nature of abuse, age and gender of child, the relationship between child and perpetrator, frequency and duration of abuse  Social support, family support may be buffers  Majority of children who are sexually abused will be symptomatic at some point in their lives  Boys and girls cope differently  Girls display internalizing symptoms such as depression and eating disorders  Boys- externalizing behaviours such as delinquency and heavy drinking are more likely exhibited by boys. Psychological consequences  Borderline personality disorder  Depression  Anxiety  PTSD  Eating disorders  Alcohol use  Sexualized behaviours  Symptoms of attention deficit  Suicide  Substance abuse Psychosocial  Relationship disruption  Dissatisfaction with their relationships  Sexual unfaithfulness  Increased sexual dysfunction  Violent behaviours  Adult re-victimization  Effects on parenting Mental health consequences  Sexual abuse in childhood can have a wide range of effects in adulthood.  Some survivors experience less mental health problems, while others have many mental health problems.  Child abuse is a kind of trauma, which is shocking, intense and disturbing  Sexual abuse in childhood can affect: a. Confidence Misuse of trust can jeopardize the feeling that the world is a safe place and impairs the ability to trust others. This is especially pronounced if there is a close relationship with the abuser b. Self-esteem - a child can blame himself or herself for abuse, although this is not his or her fault, and you may have a bad picture of his or her future. c. Coping with stress - a child can have a lot of negative feelings, making it difficult to deal with everyday stress. d. Impulsivity - acting before thinking of the consequences, which can lead risky activities. Anger- anger management difficulties. e. Dissociation - a common reaction to pain and fear; the mind is "separated" from the painful events in order to protect from it; the difficulty in remembering what happened, the feeling that the world is not real or the feeling of disconnection with your body f. Self-harm as a way of coping with difficult thoughts or feelings (Batey et al. 2010). Short term health problems cont..  Child sexual abuse is associated with developing of a wide range of mental, health and social problems, both in childhood and in adulthood.  Short-term problems - problems in controlling anger or violent behaviour - difficulties in emotional reactions regulations - negative effects on self-esteem - fear and anxiety - problems in interpersonal relationship - nightmares - post-traumatic stress disorder - school difficulties - a sense of betrayal, weakness - stigmatization; inappropriate sexual behaviour; sleep problems; social retreat, isolation; bodily complaints. Prevention of CSA  Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged that violence against children is a global problem and in response, it released the INSPIRE strategy to reduce any form of violence against children by 2030, namely:  (1) to ensure the implementation and enforcement of laws to prevent violent behaviours  (2) the strengthening of norms and values that support non-violent, respectful, nurturing, positive and gender-equitable relationships for all children and adolescents  (3) creating safe streets and environments where children and youth gather and spend time  (4) delivering parental and caregiver support in communities in order to create positive parent–child relationships  (5) economic strengthening of families  (6) improving access to good-quality health, social welfare and criminal justice support services for all children who need them; and  (7) increasing children's access to more effective, gender-equitable education, and ensuring that school environments are safe (WHO, 2018) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Target 16.2  the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes Target 16.2 which aims to end all forms of violence against children.  Furthermore, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108/1996 consistent with the UNCRC (1989), guarantees that protection from any form of abuse, including CSA, is a constitutional right of all children.  However, despite this fundamental right, CSA remains a problem in South Africa.  In South Africa, as is the case in many other countries, primary prevention of CSA is not prioritised (Salter, 2018). Hence, eliciting children's views on how to safeguard their communities against CSA to inform prevention initiatives is imperative. UNICEF strategy  UNICEF (2020) advocates for a multisectoral approach to ending child sexual abuse through strengthening national child protection systems and services and scaling up violence prevention programs such  Parenting support  Community programs  School prevention programs  Social norms change strategies Preventive strategies  Communities, especially men, need to become advocates for females and children by making child sexual molestation a subject of conversation  Protecting children from sexual abuse is the obligation of everybody in a community, not just women.  Other than mothers and grandmothers, child protection and education on child molestation should be the domain of fathers, stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and community members who have no children or whose children are grown up.  Community involvement is important, given that community-level factors such as poverty and neighbourhood social processes are known to be associated with high rates of child sexual abuse.  Preventing substance misuse, especially among parents, and providing interventions that improve parenting skills as measures of dealing with child sexual abuse. Some recent researchers have measured parents’ ability to protect their children from sexual abuse by the extent to which they have discussed child sexual abuse Preventive strategies  Parents should be taught current approaches for protecting children and ensuring that children can disclose specific abusive behaviours, such as inappropriate touching, and identify perpetrators  Parenting programs that promote positive parenting practices to reduce child sexual abuse risk through the enhancement of parent–child relations that are more positive and warmer, as well as providing parents with the skills to set appropriate limits, monitor effectively, provide a sense of security, and openly communicate with their children.  Community involvement in child protection is vital, as adults and children in a community are best placed to identify local protection issues and develop the most appropriate solutions in cooperation with service providers.  If community leaders and parents work together to prevent child sexual abuse, children can identify and avoid abuse and report it after it happens. NGO’s Preventive strategies  NGOs also play a crucial role in dealing with child sexual abuse. Many developing countries have started enacting laws with nearby and worldwide non-government associations supporting the counteraction of child sexual abuse.  Strengthening of partnerships between NGO’s, the community , law enforcement, schools, parents, relevant government departments to advocate and fight for the prevention of CSA through all relevant stakeholders  https://youtu.be/-wjY2-qRteM