An exploratory study of University Students’ Lived Experiences and Memories of Childhood Abuse.
Abstract
Child abuse is a serious and devastating global problem. In Tanzania this problem exists in a variety of forms and is deeply rooted in cultural, educational and social practices, often mixed with, and difficult to distinguish from normal measures of correcting and disciplining children. This study is undertaken to describe the patterns of child abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) as experienced by university students in Tanzania in their childhood. The study also aims at obtaining deeper understanding of the different types of perpetrators who interacted with, and inflicted abuse to children in the family and community at large.
Data comes from a representative sample drawn from university students (n=470) in one university in Tanzania in March 2019. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data.
The results show multiple experiences of physical, emotional and sexual child abuse for both male and female students. The findings also indicate that family members, teachers, peers, and motor-cycle drivers were involved in the abuse of children consistent with similar studies which categorize such groups of people as perpetrators of child abuse (Moore et al, 2007; UNICEF Tanzania, 2011; Kisanga, 2012; McCrann, 2017)
The study recommends that behaviors of child abuse be given due attention to ensure proper care, normal development and guarantee protection of children. The study also highlights the significance of engaging university students on intervention programs to counteract the negative effects of child abuse during adulthood.
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2. Azaf N.S., VizabaskaranK., , Karisnan K., Jamaludin A.N. (2022). Impact of Multi-Type Childhood Abuse on Psychological Development and Coping Strategies among Perdana University Students. Mal J Med Health Sci 18(1): 187-194.
3. Bandura, A., Ross, D., & Ross, S. A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggres-sive models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63, 575–582
4. Boakye, K. E. (2009). Culture and Nondisclosure of Child Sexual Abuse in Ghana: A Theoretical and Empirical Exploration. Law & Social Inquiry, 34(4), 951–979.
5. Briere, J. N., & Elliott, D. M. (1994). Immediate and Long-Term Impacts of Child Sexual Abuse. The Future of Children, 4(2), 54–69.
6. Bunting L., Davidson G., McCartan C., Hanratty J., Bywaters P., Mason W., & Steils N.,(2018). The association between child maltreatment and adult poverty – A systematic review of longitudinal research. Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol.77, pp. 121-133.
7. Chandran, A., Puvanachandra, P., & Hyder, A. A. (2011). Commentary: Prevention of violence against children: A framework for progress in lowand middle-income countries. Journal of Public Health Policy, 32(1), 121–134. https://doi.org/io.io57/jphp.20io.4o
8. Connolly, M., Crichton-Hill, Y., & Ward, T. (2006). Culture and Child Protection Reflexive Responses. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
9. Ezekiel, M. J., Mosha, I. H., Kisanga, F., Mpembeni, R., Anaeli, A., Kamazima, S. R., & Muhondwa, E. P. Y. (2017). Factors associated with child sexual abuse in Tanzania: a qualitative study. Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 19(2), 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/thrb.v19i2.9
10. Foreman, S., & Seligman, L. (1983). Adolescent Abuse. The School Counselor, 31(1), 17–25.
11. Gilligan, P., & Akhtar, S. (2006). Cultural Barriers to the Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse in Asian Communities: Listening to What Women Say. The British Journal of Social Work, 36(8), 1361–1377. https://doi.org/10.1093/bj sw/bch309
12. Hawke, A., & Raphael., A. (2016). Offender on The Move: The Global Study Report on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism. ECPAT International.
13. Heyman R & and Smith A (2002). Do Child Abuse and Interparental Violence Lead to Adulthood Family Violence? Journal of Marriage and Family, 64 (4) pp. 864-870.
14. Humphreys, C., & Stanley, N. (2006). Domestic Violence and Child Protection Directions for Good Practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
15. ILO & NBS. (2016). Tanzania national child labour survey 2014: Analytical Report / International Labour Office; Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FUNDAMENTALS). Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics.
16. Indigenous Law Centre. (2006). Breaking the Silence, Creating the future: Addressing Child Sexual Assault in Aboriginal Communities in New South Wales. Indigenous Law Centre, 10(3), 63–71.
17. Iratzoqui, A. (2018). Strain and opportunity: A theory of repeat victimization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(8), 1366–1387. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-11786-008
18. Kisanga, F. (2012). Child sexual abuse in urban Tanzania: Possibilities and barriers for prevention (Doctoral thesis). Umeå University Medical Dissertation.
19. Krug, E. G., Dahlberg, L. L., Mercy, J. A., Zwi, A. B., & Lozano, R. (2002). World report on violence and health (No. HV 6625). Geneva: World Health Organization.
20. Landgren, K. (2005). The Protective Environment: Development Support for Child Protection. Human Rights Quarterly, 27(1), 214–248.
21. Lau, K.J., Krase, K., & Morse, R. (2009). Mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect: A practical guide for social workers. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
22. Law of the Child Act. (2009). The Law of the Child Act, 2009. United Republic of Tanzania.
23. Lawrence, A. (2004). Principles of Child Protection: Management and Practice. New York: Open University Press.
24. McCrann, D. (2017). An Exploratory Study of Child Sexual Abuse in Tanzania (Doctoral thesis). Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin.
25. Meston C., Heiman J., & Trapnell P. (1999). The Relation between Early Abuse and Adult Sexuality. The Journal of Sex Research, 36 (4), pp. 385-395
26. MoHCDGEC. (2016). National Plan of Action to End Violence against Women and Children in Tanzania (NPA-VAWC) 2017/18 – 2021/22. Ministry for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children.
27. Moore, A. M., Awusabo-Asare, K., Madise, N., John-Langba, J., & Kumi-Kyereme, A. (2007). Coerced First Sex among Adolescent Girls in Sub-Saharan Africa: Prevalence and Context. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 11(3), 62–82.
28. NBS & ILO. (2016). Tanzania National Child Labour Survey 2014. Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics.
29. NBS. (2013). Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey 2011-12. TACAIDS, ZAC, NBS, OCGS, and ICF International.
30. Ogunyemi, B. (2000). Knowledge and Perception of Child Sexual Abuse in Urban Nigeria: Some Evidence from a Community-Based Project. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 4(2), 44–52.
31. Oseni, T. I. A., Lawani, O. E., & Oyedeji, A. I. (2016). A Case Study of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. African Journal of Reproductive Health / La Revue Africaine de La Santé Reproductive, 20(1), 109–113.
32. Reckdenwald,A. Mancini, C. & Beauregard E (2013). The Cycle of Violence: Examining the Impact of Maltreatment Early in Life on Adult Offending. Violence and Victims, 28(3), 466-482.
33. Robinson, T. & Breaux, M. (2019). Theoretical Frameworks for Understanding Child Maltreatment. Crime Victims’ Institute: Sam Houston State University
34. Smith C. (1996). The link between childhood maltreatment and teenage pregnancy. Social Work Research. 20 (3), pp. 131-141.
35. Sossou, M.-A., & Yogtiba, J. A. (2009). Abuse of Children in West Africa: Implications for Social Work Education and Practice. British Journal of Social Work, 39, 1218–1234. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcn033
36. Spertus, I. L., Yehuda, R., Wong, C. M., Halligan, S., & Seremetis, S. V. (2003). Childhood emotional abuse and neglect as predictors of psychological and physical symptoms in women presenting to a primary care practice. Child Abuse and Neglect, 27(11), pp. 1247-1258.
37. UNFPA. (2014). Child Marriage Fact Sheet. UNFPA.
38. UNFPA. (n.d.). Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). United Nations Population Fund.
39. UNICEF Tanzania. (2011a). Kikosi kazi kinachojumuisha Sekta Mbalimbali: Mpango wa Taifa wa kukabiliana na Ukatili Dhidi ya Watoto. Dar es salaam.
40. UNICEF Tanzania. (2011b). Ukatili Dhidi ya Watoto Tanzania: Muhtasari. Dar es salaam.
41. UNICEF Tanzania. (2017). UNICEF Annual Report 2017; United Republic of Tanzania. Dar es salaam.
42. URT. (2011). Violence Against Children in Tanzania Findings from a National Survey 2009. United Republic of Tanzania.
43.WHO. (1999). Report of the consultation on child abuse prevention. (No. WHO/HSC/PVI/99.1). Geneva: WHO.
44. WHO. (2014). Global status report on violence prevention 2014. (No. HV 6625). Geneva: World Health Organization.
45. WHO. (2017). Responding to children and adolescents who have been sexually abused: WHO clinical guidelines. World Health Organization.
46. WHO. (2018). INSPIRE Handbook: action for implementing the seven strategies for ending violence against children. Geneva: World Health Organization.
47. WHO. (2018). INSPIRE: seven strategies for ending violence against children. World Health Organization.
48. WHO. (2020). Global status report on preventing violence against children. Geneva: World Health Organization; Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
49. Wyser, B. (2018). Assessment of the Impact of Tourism on Communities and Children in Zanzibar. Bureau Wyser.
Authors
[1]
“An exploratory study of University Students’ Lived Experiences and Memories of Childhood Abuse”., Soc. sci. humanities j., vol. 8, no. 02, pp. 34516–34534, Feb. 2024, doi: 10.18535/sshj.v8i02.937.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.