A Study on the Assessment of Pattern and Predisposing Conditions of Child Sexual Abuse Among Female Children Seen in Gandhi Memorial Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2017
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Date
2017-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background:Child sexual abuse remains a silent crime which occurs in different settings and
cuts across varying social classes. Child sexual abuse is a serious breach of basic human rights
and is responsible for numerous adverse sequelae its wide-spread presence in both developing
and developed countries is well documented. Child sexual abuse is a serious worldwide public
health concern that requires collective, as well as individual, pro-active measures for
safeguarding children’s rights. Child sexual abuse is associated with a variety of problems in the
short and the long term for both male and female victims.
Objective: To assess the pattern and predisposing conditions of child sexual abuse among
female Children seen in Gandhi Memorial Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2017
Methods: The research was conducted by collecting reported child sexual abuse cases from the
records of patients who presented to Gandhi Memorial Hospital as a case of Child sexual abuse
from March 2016 to February 2017 seen in Gandhi Memorial Hospital. Systematic random
techniques were used to determine the sample size.
Results: Being a total of 292 selected samples of victim children was included from the one year
period then completed a semi-structured questionnaire and data were analysed.Their peak age is
adolescent age (12-18yr). Most of the victims (41.1%) live with their both parents, followed by
single parent care taker. Nearly half of the cases were victimized at their own home followed by
their neighbour home. Even though most of them have old hymen injury physical finding at
presentation, minor laceration and major bleedings were also common. Almost all the
perpetrators are male and majority of the perpetrators are known by the child and most of them
use alcohol during the time of attack.
Conclusion:From the study it shows female children are at risk of sexual abuse irrespective of
their age, socioeconomic status and degree of relationship between the perpetrators and
victims.The proportion of child sexual abuse at Gandhi Memorial Hospital is estimated 73.3%,
from the total victims of females, some came down with pregnancy.Presences of family problem
were a predisposing factor for CSA.
Recommendations: As we observed CSA is becoming one of problem of the public health
problem so it is important that effective preventive strategies must be developed and
implemented.Establishment of child protection centre is mandatory. We should enhance CSA
data documentation to utilize for the promotion of evidence based CSA policy & programming
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Gandhi Memorial Hospital