Victims of Technology-Assisted Child Sexual Abuse: A Scoping Review
Date
2023
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Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
Abstract
The study examined the Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) mitigation strategies in Muringazuva ward
8 in Muzarabani District of Mashonaland Central. This study was motivated by the noted
increase of CSA reported cases at St Albert’s Community Home Based Care (CHBC) where
the researcher previously worked. Identification of the current CSA mitigation strategies, the
degree of their success and the factors that undermine their efficacy in their implementation in
Muringazuva ward 8 constituted the objectives of this study. The study employed the descriptive
research design while a triangulation of qualitative and quantitative research methodology
was done to solicit data from respondents. Data was implored through focus group discussions,
semi-structured key informant interviews and questionnaires from a sample of 39 respondents
who are into Child Protection Programming (20 females and 19 males) and three key
informants, one from the Department of Social Services, one from St Albert’s CHBC and one
from Muzarabani ZRP station Victim Friendly Unit and a focus group discussion constituting
of 5 traditional leaders and 5 religious leaders. Four sampling techniques namely simple
random, stage, purposive and convenience sampling techniques for selecting respondents in
Muringazuva ward 8. Secondary sources of data such as journals, textbooks and case files and
trends records from key informants were also used in this study. Findings were presented in
the form of tables, pie charts and graphs while analysis of findings was done through thematic
content analysis. The study findings reveal that there are currently eleven CSA mitigation
strategies in Muringazuva Ward namely awareness campaigns, formation and training of peer
groups in CSA mitigation, making victim referrals to service providers, tip offs, funding victims
of CSA with bus fares, medical examination fees, Victim Friendly Unit/place of safety,
empowerment of child headed families with livelihoods, getting rid of young children at
traditional ceremonies held during the night, suggestion boxes and following up cases CSA
victims. It was also found however that of these, ten were reckoned as successful as they
managed to score above half in the strategy rating scale except for suggestion boxes and tip
offs which scored below half were 20.5% (n=8) of the respondents rated this strategy at 1,
30.8% (n=12) rated it at 2, 23.1% (n=9) rated it at 3, 15.4% (n=6) rated it at 4, and 10.3%
(n=4) rated it at 5. Culture, poverty, family structure, mythical misconceptions, inaccessibility
of child protection information, manipulation of untrained personnel in victim offender
management and lack of resources are the challenges being faced in CSA mitigation in
Muringazuva Ward 8. The study therefore concluded that ignorance has contributed to
perpetration of CSA, manipulation of untrained personnel compromise CSA mitigation efforts
and poverty expose children to CSA. The researcher therefore recommended inclusive
sensitization of community members on CSA and reporting procedures, empowerment of
children at risk of being victims to CSA and manipulation of trained personnel in Victim
Offender Management. The researcher also recommended further research to focus on
assessment of CSA incidence and impact in rural community which will aid to justification for
a call for action and needs assessment in policy area determination and to manipulate CSA
victims as respondents as they will provide experience based responses.
Description
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Keywords
child sexual abuse material, International Resources, Germany, online sexual exploitation
Citation
Chauviré-Geib, K., & Fegert, J. M. (2023). Victims of Technology-Assisted Child Sexual Abuse: A Scoping Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 15248380231178754.