Child Sexual Abuse and Situational Context: Children’s Experiences in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Children
• gender issues
• sexual abuse
• intervention

Acknowledgments

We are greatly indebted to the study funders Deutscher Akdemischer Austauschdienst –German Academic Exchange service (DAAD), Kyambogo University and Makerere University where the corresponding author has received support as a doctoral student. We also acknowledge the efforts of our respondents, the caregivers who allowed their children to be interviewed, the duty bearers (Police Officers in charge of Children and Family Protection, Probation and Social Welfare Officers and Community Development Officers) who helped in identifying the reported cases. We are greatly indebted to the research assistants Steven Ediru and Milly Adong for their commitment and resilience during data collection. Special thanks also go to Dr. Denis Muhangi of College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB) for the language editing in the manuscript.

Disclosure of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest to report.

Ethical Standards and Informed Consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with ethical standards of responsible communities on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed assent was obtained from caregivers of minors prior to all the interviews.

Additional information

Funding

Funding was provided by Deutscher Akdemischer Austauschdienst –German Academic Exchange service (DAAD) [grant number 91560797] and Kyambogo University through the Research and Grants Programme

Notes on contributors

Anicent Nyangoma

Anicent Nyangoma is a doctoral student at Makerere University, studying gender analysis on child abuse and neglect; exigencies of post-conflict in northern Uganda. Her research interests include health care services, disabilities and rehabilitation, child protection and family welfare. She is an assistant lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Social Administration at Kyambogo University.

Florence Ebila

Florence Ebila, PhD is a lecturer in the School of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University. She has research interests in gender, culture, literature and nationalism.

Julius Omona

Julius Omona, PhD is an associate Professor in the School of Social Work and Social Administration at Makerere University. His research interests include Social Services in conflict areas and civil society.