Factors that influence the reporting of child sexual abuse amongst primary school teachers in South Africa: An application of the theory of planned behaviour
Abstract
Child sexual abuse is a prevalent problem in South Africa – one in every three children is
sexually abused before the age of 18. Sexually abused children have serious psychological,
physical and social problems which cause further difficulties into adulthood. Most abusers
are known to their victims and thus, victims do not always disclose the abuse. Therefore, the
law compels the reporting of child sexual abuse suspicions by third parties. However, past
research shows that mandated reporters do not always report child sexual abuse suspicions.
This study aimed to investigate the factors related to the mandatory reporting of child
sexual abuse amongst primary school teachers in South Africa. A cross-sectional research
study, using self-administered survey questionnaires, was conducted amongst foundation
phase teachers in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Grounded on the theory of
planned behaviour, this study investigated the relationships between various independent
variables with the teacher’s intention to report child sexual abuse. The independent variables
tested included the teachers’ attitude towards reporting, subjective norm, perceived
behavioural control, knowledge on mandatory reporting, past reporting behaviour and sociodemographic
characteristics of teachers.
From a total population of 1118 public primary schools (and estimated 9542
foundation phase teachers), using stratified random sampling, a total of 2032 questionnaires
were hand-delivered to 200 schools randomly selected across the Western Cape. A total of
399 foundation phase teachers participated in this study, representing a 20% response rate.
This study found that about 25% of teachers had reported at least one case of child
sexual abuse during their teaching career. About 7% of the teachers in this study had
encountered instances in which they had failed to report suspected child sexual abuse.
Subjective norm and perceived behavioural control (but not attitude towards reporting) was
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found to predict intention to report amongst teachers. A teacher who reported child sexual
abuse in the past as well as a teacher with more accurate knowledge on mandatory reporting,
was more likely to have intention to report in the future. Contrary to that posited by the
theory of planned behaviour, attitude towards reporting did not mediate the relationship
between past reporting behaviour and intention to report nor the relationship between
knowledge on mandatory reporting and intention to report.
The study further found that older teachers with more years teaching experience,
although having a lower education level, were more likely to report their suspicions. Younger
teachers, with less teaching experience, although better educated than their older
counterparts, indicated less likelihood of reporting. The theory of planned behaviour,
although significant, could not on its own effectively be applied to teachers’ intention to
report child sexual abuse and further investigation identified other explanatory factors that
influenced teachers’ intention to report.
Given the high prevalence of child sexual abuse, the results have important
implications. Whilst the teachers’ age, years teaching experience or past reporting behaviour
cannot be controlled, teachers must be adequately trained and supported. Knowing how to
recognize and report child sexual abuse must be integrated into the tertiary education
qualifications of student teachers as well as in continuing in-service training initiatives of
current teachers. Furthermore, schools and the entire child protection system, must be
supportive to teachers in their reporting duties.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
reporting, educators, child sexual abuse, mandatory reporting, International Resources, South Africa
Citation
Rule, D. M. (2017). Factors that influence the reporting of child sexual abuse amongst primary school teachers in South Africa: An application of the theory of planned behaviour. (Doctoral dissertation). University of Cape Town.