Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse: A Unique Silent Epidemic. Perspectives of Victim-Friendly Court Professionals in Marondera District, Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT

Intrafamilial child sexual abuse is the commonest, though the under-reported, form of child sexual abuse in Marondera District and Zimbabwe generally. However, little is known about what drives it and what practitioners know about it. This study explored the factors associated with the incidence of intrafamilial child sexual abuse in Marondera based on perceptions of Victim-Friendly Court professionals in the district. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to twenty-five professionals from thirteen agencies implementing the Victim-Friendly Court initiative in Marondera. Relevant court records of intrafamilial child sexual abuse cases were also reviewed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, descriptive statistics and document analysis. The study revealed that intrafamilial child sexual abuse in Marondera is associated with very subtle structural factors which put children at risk of abuse, prevent children, families, and communities from reporting, and reduce the accessibility of formal systems of social control. There are ‘conflicts’ between normative/legal and traditional socio-cultural value systems such that there is no shared understanding of the fundamental issues driving this phenomenon. Policy/practice responses need to take cognizance of these peculiarities. As a basic first step, a comprehensive national prevalence study is required. Further in-depth research of the socio-cultural determinants of intrafamilial child sexual abuse is also recommended.

KEYWORDS:

• Risk factors
• socio-cultural determinants
• intervention
• policy/practice responses
• practitioners
• qualitative

Acknowledgments

I take this profound opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of everyone who contributed to this important study. Special mention goes to the Victim-Friendly Court authorities in Marondera for letting me undertake this project in their sphere of operation. I also acknowledge the research’s participants for opening up on this very sensitive subject.

Disclosure of interest

I have no conflicts of interest to disclose. No funding was received to conduct the study.

Ethical standards and informed consent

Ethical approval was obtained from National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe. Further approval was obtained from the Judicial Services Commission’s Chief Magistrate’s Office, the custodian of the Victim-Friendly Court initiative in Zimbabwe.

Notes

1. CPCs are non-paid community structures mandated by the government through the Department of Child Welfare and Protection Services to lead child abuse prevention and response activities at the community level. Typically, they include local and traditional leaders, government extension staff, and local volunteers such as childcare workers, village health workers, health promoters, and behavior change facilitators and so on (National Victim-Friendly Court Committee, 2012).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anthony Shuko Musiwa

Anthony Shuko Musiwa, PhD (c), is a researcher and doctoral student at McGill University Centre for Research on Children and Families in Montréal, QC, Canada.