Breaking the Silence of Child Sexual Abuse in the Caribbean: A Community-Based Action Research Intervention Model

Abstract

In Trinidad and Tobago, little data exists on child sexual abuse, although there are many anecdotal reports of high prevalence. The Breaking the Silence Gender and Community Empowerment Model is a multidisciplinary intervention to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in Trinidad and Tobago. It is an innovative, gender-sensitive intervention that uses a community based action research methodology anchored in a national framework. Preliminary evaluation of the Breaking the Silence model shows increased knowledge of child sexual abuse, increased willingness to discuss child sexual abuse, and an impact that goes beyond the target communities. This model can be replicated in communities to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and adapted to address other sensitive social issues in the Caribbean.

Violence against children in Latin America and Caribbean countries: a comprehensive review of national health sector efforts in prevention and response

“…These publications included studies implemented from 2003-2013 in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Trinidad & Tobago and are presented in Additional file 1: Table S2 [50, 51, 53, 66–80]. Studies from Brazil and Guatemala focused on the evaluation of a combined intervention to develop a subnational interdisciplinary network of providers involved in the response to VAC and to implement the new VAC protocol [66, 77].…”

“…Lastly, the Breaking the Silence (BTS) intervention in Trinidad & Tobago targeted 3 communities consisting of 13 villages and utilized a community-based approach to develop the intervention model [80]. Activities included education, skills building, and service provision offered by an interdisciplinary team comprised of counselors, health professionals, child care workers, social workers, and nurses trained to work with individuals and families in the community for health promotion and disease prevention.…”

“…Preliminary assessment of the intervention found overall improvements in knowledge and awareness of VAC, capacity building, and motivation to act in response to VAC. In each community, community members had established and sustained support services to identify and help survivors of VAC [80]. …”

“…All country protocols addressed the importance of community involvement in responding to VAC. Indeed, the BTS model from Trinidad & Tobago, which provided an interdisciplinary team of health professional and social workers to partner with the community for education and skills building, is one example of a community-based effort to prevent and respond to VAC [80]. Subsequently, this program has been scaled up in all Eastern Caribbean countries with support by UNICEF [120].…”

Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences: It’s All about Relationships

“…Israel et al identify CBPR as (i) participatory, (ii) cooperative, as researchers and community members engage in a process in which both contribute equally, (iii) results in co-learning for both groups, (iv) a method for system development and local capacity building, (v) empowering local participants to take control of their lives by building community strength and problem-solving abilities, and (vi) a balance of research and outcomes. Focusing on power with the community partners, empowerment of these partners, and bringing about community change, CBPR is both a research method and an intervention [79,80].…”