A Vignettes-Based Exploration of Attitudes of Parents Toward Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse in Ghana

Abstract

Reporting child sexual abuse (CSA) to law enforcement institutions is the ideal child protection imperative. The role of parents in this process is unquestionably profound. Yet, there is limited evidence on parental perspectives on reporting CSA to law enforcement agencies in developing country contexts. We apply vignettes to describe the views of parents about reporting CSA perpetrated by “family members, schoolteachers, and strangers.” Data was collected from 89 parents from four culturally diverse regions of Ghana. A systematic inductive approach was used to determine patterns and similarities in participants’ attitudes toward reporting. We note that the attitudes of participants about reporting CSA varied considerably; these are influenced by the nature of social relationships between the victim and perpetrator. In a seeming order of severity, CSA perpetrated by a family member was viewed less seriously compared to victimization by a teacher or a stranger. The desire to preserve familial/kin ties and reputation and keeping to the cultural heritage of resolving “disputes and disagreements” amicably were primary norms against reporting CSA. However, attitudes toward reporting CSA by teachers were influenced by expectation of higher moral standards, which made reporting CSA by a teacher a reasonable cause of action. Positive attitudes toward reporting CSA by “strangers” were prevalent. Child protection programs must recognzse the segmented attitudes toward CSA and tackle the deep-seated cultural and social norms through social and behavioral change communication (SBCC).

“It’s a Phenomenon in Our Community, a Phenomenon That Is Silenced”: Child Sexual Abuse and the Circles of Silence in the Jewish National Religious Community in Israel

“…For example, in the research on CSA in Israeli kibbutz communities, one of the main justifications found for silencing victims was to protect the community's reputation and particularly the familial characteristic of the kibbutz, including mutual dependence and trust between the members (Michel and Tener 2023). A similar finding was revealed in the context of reporting CSA in Ghana, where protecting family reputation and maintaining family ties were primary causes for not reporting (Amo-Adjei et al 2023). The issue of family reputation, shame, and stigmatization has been found to be particularly significant in the context of CSA within the Orthodox Jewish community, as reporting CSA may be viewed as disturbing the familial peace and a strike against the family's good name within the community (Katzenstein and Fontes 2017).…”