Examination of the Impact of Sexual Molestation on Mental Health of the Victim
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
The general objective of this study is to asses and identifies mental health impact of Sexual Molestation on the part of female victims in ‘Ikeja’ town, Lagos Nigeria. The specific objective of the study is:
- To investigate the psychosocial effects of Sexual Molestation;
- To assess whether or not all sexually abused children equally suffer from the problem;
- To identify their coping mechanisms that have been employed by sexually abused children;
- To investigate how sexually abused children discloses the abuse; and
- To explore social work interventions in place in order to effectively prevent Sexual Molestation and to treat the victims.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Definition of Sexual Molestation
There are many forms of childhood sexual abuse. The sexual abuse can involve seduction by a beloved relative or it can be a violent act committed by a stranger. Sexual abuse can be hard to define because of the many different forms it can take on, the different levels of frequency, the variation of circumstances it can occur within, and the different relationships that it may be associated with. Maltz (2002) gives the following definition: “sexual abuse occurs whenever one person dominates and exploits another by means of sexual activity or suggestion” (Maltz, 2001a, cited in Maltz, 2002, p. 321). Sexual Molestation is any forced or tricked sexual contact by an adult or older child with a child. Usually the adult or older child is in a position of power or authority over the child. Physical force is generally not used, since there is usually a trusting relationship between the adult or older child and the child who is abused (McClendon, 2009).
Sexual Molestation is any interaction between a child and an adult (or another older child) in which the child is used for the sexual stimulation of the perpetrator. Sexual abuse can include both touching and non-touching behaviors. Touching behaviors may involve touching of the vagina, penis, breasts or buttocks, oral-genital contact, or sexual intercourse. Non-touching behaviors can include trying to look at a child’s naked body, exhibitionism, or exposing the child to pornography. (Hanson , 2009).
The definition of Sexual Molestation formulated by WHO Consultation on Child Abuse Prevention which stated that: “Sexual Molestation is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society. Sexual Molestation is evidenced by this activity between a child and an adult or another child who by age or development is in a relationship of responsibility, trust or power, the activity being intended to gratify or satisfy the needs of the other person. This may include but is not limited to: the exploitative use of a child in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices; the inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity; and the exploitative use of children in pornographic performance and materials” (WHO 2007).
Sexual Molestation is defined as maltreatment that involves the child in sexual activity to provide sexual gratification or financial benefit to the perpetrator (Hanson , 2009) . Whealin (2006) tried to defined Sexual Molestation as an act that includes a wide range of sexual behaviors that take place between a child and old person. These sexual behaviors include open mouth kissing, touching, fondling, manipulation of the genitals, anus or breasts with fingers, lips, tongue or with an object. It may include intercourse. Children may not have been touched themselves but may have been forced to perform sexual acts on an adult or older child.
Sexual abuse is also defined as any sexual activity involving a child where consent is not or cannot be given. Depending upon the age at which a state deems a child capable of giving consent (Wightman, 2002). Jonzon (2006) defined sexual abuse as act or situation with sexual meaning where an adult or younger person is using a child in purpose to satisfy his /her sexual need. Jonzon definition tell us that CSA to be contact the child and an adult when a child is being used for sexual stimulation of the perpetrator or another person; when the perpetrator or another person is in position of power.
Generally speaking, although the existing various definition of sexual molestation, the definitions does not contradict and have even much community.
Prevalence of Sexual Molestation
Prevalence refers to the proportion of a population that has experienced a particular event or behavior. The estimation of any form of deviance behaviors in the general population is a very difficult task. It is impossible to assess the extent of sexual abuse, either in general or with children as targets. Most estimates of the distribution of sexual offenders in the general population are derived from executive or judiciary sources, that is, samples of those who are arrested or convicted for sex offenses (Lawson & Chaffin, 2009) .All researchers acknowledge that those who are reported to legal body represent only a fraction of all sexual abused.
CHAPTER THREE
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
The Study Design and Methods
This part deals with the methods followed and tools used in gathering the necessary information. The main objective of the study is to assess the mental health impact of Sexual Molestation .Hence, in order to investigate deeply how aftereffects of the trauma could affect their psychosocial functioning of the sample subjects, qualitative research approach considered to be appropriate together with quantitative approach. The study was based on non-experimental design about the characteristics of the abused and perpetrator and families of abused children. An effective assessment of all these was considered to be possible if a combination of both qualitative and quantitative approach applied.
Population of the Study
The sample participant were 29 sexually abused children between the age of 5- 17.they were selected from Ikeja-hospital sexually abused children care and support center which established by indigenous NGO. This center found to be most appropriate because it consists of sexually abused children whose cases were reported and who are getting counseling services. Besides, six of their parents, two counselors and one police officer were included in the study to supplement the data.
Sampling Technique
Though the researcher utilized both qualitative and quantitative approach, the weight was on the former one. Thus, qualitative research naturally recommended purposive sampling technique and even the nature of the problem by itself forces us to use the same techniques. As a result, the same procedure was applied in this study to select the participants of the study. Later, because of lack of access to all the samples, available children includes in the study.
When selecting the sample subject, some factors were taken into consideration. some of them are the age of victim children should be between 5 and 17; the age gap of the victim child and perpetrator should be 5years; and the abuse should have physical contact.
CHAPTER FOUR
Data Presentation, Analysis, Interpretation and Discussion
This part deals with presentation, analysis and interpretation of both qualitative and quantitative data. The item collected by using quantitative approach are tabulated and presented in Percentages and the analyses follow after the table. The data collected by interview guide are analysis in detail qualitatively together with the quantitative ones.
As Table 1 shows only one offenders has sexually abused the majority children; that is, 93.1% of the survivors were abused by only one offender and a considerable number of the survivors children 6.68% were abused by two persons. But no abused occurred by more than two offenders. Many of the survivors had been numerously sexually abused for a long period of time by someone closer in the nuclear family (about 51.72%).the sexual abuse often started before and after the age of 8.The majority (72.42%)0f the abuse started between the age of 8-17;and the duration rage between a single episode to numerous times spanning seven years. that is, in the case the abuse intra familial like incest, the sexual relationship stayed from single incident to about seven years being its maximum. the statics on the duration of the sexual abuse tell us that most of the sexual abuses do not last long except as in case of incest where the relationship proceeds in a hidden manner.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
CONCLUSION
It has been observed in the study victims of sexual molestation suffer psychological, social, physical, health related and other consequences. From these effects, results of the study indicated that psychological and social consequences are found to be worse for the victims than any other consequences.
From the results of the study PTSD, Anxiety, emotional distress, depression, cognitive distortion, avoidance and interpersonal difficulties are the most frequently observed psychosocial consequences of the CSA.
The sexually abused children are found to show different signs (physical signs like sleeping, eating, etc problems), behavioral problems (aggression, running way, suicidal behavioral, etc.) emotional signs (becoming quite, depressed, anxious, etc.) social problems (withdraw, isolation, etc.) and others.
All sexually abused children do not suffer equally from the problem. The magnitudes of the mental health impact determine by factors such as the victim’s age, relationship to the offender, duration and frequency of the abuse, family and community support. The result of the study indicated that victim children who were abused at early age, or abused by a family member, and abused frequently for a long time are found to have severe psychological consequences than those who were not.
Almost all sexually abused children used their own coping strategies to make their situation better or to handle it. Their coping strategies include self-improvement techniques, keeping themselves busy, avoidance and seeking solution. These coping strategies are positive but also include negative strategies like avoidance, etc.
Children always want to tell about their abuse so that it can be stopped; but they are often afraid that will not be believed or protected or they are afraid of what might happen if they do tell. Especially in the case of incest, when the abuser is a close family member, children may not reveal their sexual victimization. Age of the victims, relation to the perpetrator, feeling of powerless, fear, dependency, conflicting emotions are found to be some of the basic factors why victims may or may not disclose their sexual abuse. There is a greater possibility of serious distress to the child if the abuser is a family member, or if the child doesn’t receive support from her non-abusive parent.
All of the sample victims have been receiving medical, psychosocial and legal services from the center. Thus, the majority of these victims indicated that the intervention service which they got from the center helped them to reduced abused related problems. But there is no any kind of preventive approach designed by the care and support center or other organization in the city to protect ‘risk group children’ from any kind of sexual violence. All the samples of this study did not have any awareness regarding the occurrence of sexual violence or how to keep themselves from ‘bad touché’ before the abuse.
Conclusion
The following social work intervention is suggested for effective prevention and treatments of victims and risk groups of Sexual Molestation:
- Launching of compressive child protection program in the society and creating awareness in the society is very essential to protect every child from sexual
- Prevention education is important for sexual abused children as they are at higher risk of revictimization .
- Prevention education is very much important for non-abused risk group Such educations help children in order to able to protect themselves.
- Parents are responsible more than anyone in educating their children from any kind of harm, in preventing, if the abuse occurs in immediately reporting the case to the concerned Thus, parents should have good relation with their children, and should be equipped with the necessary information.
- Only a small portion of Sexual Molestation is ever identified easily; therefore, social workers must consider the possibility of sexual abuse when a child with a behavioral or psychiatric disorder that can develop as a result of sexual When a child presents with depression, anxiety, emotional distress, or PTSD, the possibility of sexual abuse should be explored. These children should be asked a few screening questions regarding sexual abuse.
- Social workers must facilitate compressive professional intervention services for sexually abused
- If a child discloses a history of sexual abuse or has a physical examination finding that is concerning for sexual abuse, the social worker must report concerns of suspected sexual abuse to the appropriate officials or law enforcement
- Counseling and rehabilitation services for sexually abused children should be provided extensively since psychosocial consequences are evidenced to their most serious
- For the effective social work intervention of sexual molestation, there must be organized rehabilitation centers, and well trained social
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