title: A Psychosocial Understanding of Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure Among Female Children in South Africa.
abstract: Child sexual abuse is endemic in South Africa, driven by high levels of gender-based violence and underscored by structural and social factors. This article aims to develop an understanding of the process of disclosure in a sample of female children and their caregivers. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 31 female children aged 8-17 years and their caregivers at 3 intervals after presentation to a sexual assault treatment center. Nearly half of the children failed to disclose the sexual abuse immediately, fearing caregivers' reaction. Most children purposefully disclosed to a confidant through a process of identifying an intermediary to tell caregivers on their behalf. The process of disclosure was influenced by multiple factors, such as a fear of the caregiver's reaction and disbelief, which is related to parental style. Disclosure was found to be a dynamic process that unfolds and not a single or static event and influenced by multiple factors which all impact on recovery. Our findings highlight the need to address social norms on sexual abuse in order to improve responses to disclosure to facilitate post-sexual-abuse adjustment for the child and the family.
authors: a Children's Institute , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors: Shanaaz
authors: S
authors: Mathews
authors: b Gender and Health Research Unit , South African Medical Research Council , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors: Natasha
authors: N
authors: Hendricks
authors: b Gender and Health Research Unit , South African Medical Research Council , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors: Naeemah
authors: N
authors: Abrahams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013019:South Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D014342:Truth Disclosure
keywords: South Africa; child sexual abuse; disclosure; girls and adolescents; parental support; psychosocial; trauma; victim blaming