Disclosure and help-seeking behaviors related to sexual and physical violence in childhood and adolescence: Results from the Namibia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey

Velloza, Jennifer; Davies, Luke; Ensminger, Alison; Theofelus, Frieda Mboshono; Andjamba, Helena; Kamuingona, Rahimisa; Nakuta, Joyce; Uiras, Wilhencia; Massetti, Greta M.; Coomer, Rachel; Wolkon, Adam; Forster, Norbert; O’Malley, Gabrielle

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105624

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…In Namibia, lower education, perpetrator type and witnessing violence were found to be associated with disclosure of physical violence among girls, while peer support and perpetrator type were associated disclosure among boys. 18 We extend previous work by systematically examining factors associated with awareness and help-seeking separately, but similar to Pereira et al , 9 we find relatively few predictors which emerge as significant.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…For example, violent discipline by caregivers and other adults may not be perceived as something worth reporting to relevant agencies. 18 Gender norms and strereotypes around masculinity are likely to influence disclosure of childhood sexual abuse withing patriarchal societal structures. 19 Different forms of violence, including from different perpetrators, often co-occur—‘polyvictimised’ children may also be especially likely to suffer the effects of trauma associated with abuse, 20 which also may affect help-seeking patterns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Children may also be more inclined to report certain forms of violence or violence experienced from certain perpetrators based on norms about what constitutes violence. For example, violent discipline by caregivers and other adults may not be perceived as something worth reporting to relevant agencies 18. Gender norms and strereotypes around masculinity are likely to influence disclosure of childhood sexual abuse withing patriarchal societal structures 19.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring children’s formal help-seeking behaviour for violence in Zimbabwe: analysis of national survey and routine service provider data

et al. 2023

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ObjectivesTo explore knowledge of formal services and help-seeking behaviour for violence among Zimbabwean children aged 18 years and under.DesignWe use cross-sectional data from the 2017 Zimbabwe Violence Against Children Survey (VACS), which is nationally representative and had a 72% response rate for female participants and 66% for males; and anonymised routine data from one of the largest child protection service providers' (Childline Zimbabwe) call database.SettingZimbabwe.ParticipantsWe analysed data from 13 to 18 year old participants in the 2017 VACS and pertaining to respondents aged 18 years and under from Childline Zimbabwe’s call database.Measures/analysisWe describe characteristics of children, and fit unadjusted and logistic regression models to estimate associations between selected characteristics and help-seeking knowledge and behaviours.Results1339 of 4622 children aged 13–18 years surveyed for the 2017 VACS in Zimbabwe (29.8%) reported experience of lifetime physical and/or sexual violence. Of these, 829 (57.3%) children did not know where to seek formal help, 364 (33.1%) children knew where to seek help but did not, and 139 (9.6%) children knew where to seek help and did seek help. Boys were more likely to know where to seek help, but girls were more likely to actually seek help. During the 6-month period when VACS survey data were being collected, Childline received 2177 calls where the main reason for the call was recorded as violence against someone aged 18 years or under. These 2177 calls contained more reports from girls and children in school, versus the national profile of children who had experienced violence. Few children who did not seek help reported not wanting services. Most children who did not seek help reported that they felt at fault or that their safety would be put at risk by disclosure.ConclusionBoth awareness of services and help-seeking are gendered, suggesting that different strategies may be needed to support boys and girls to access the help they want. Childline in particular may be well placed to expand its outreach to boys and to receive more reports of school-related violence, and should consider efforts to reach out-of-school children.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring children’s formal help-seeking behaviour for violence in Zimbabwe: analysis of national survey and routine service provider data

et al. 2023

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“…The suicide rate in sub-Saharan African is thought to be underestimated by the World Health Organization, which relies on generalizations made from small studies [ 77 ], but despite this, Namibia is in the top quartile globally [ 78 ]. Sexual violence is widespread; reported in a national-representative study by almost 16% of girls and 10% of boys between 13–24 years old [ 79 ], and with a lifetime prevalence between 10–27% among women [ 80 , 81 ]. High rates of alcohol abuse [ 74 , 82 ] add to the country’s public health challenges.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Still Standing Inside: A Local Idiom Related to Trauma among Namibian Speakers of Khoekhoegowab

Claudius

Shino

Job

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Euro-centric psychiatric conceptualizations often ignore the interplay of local with universal factors in psychological suffering. Emic, locally focused perspectives can enrich etic knowledge to provide culturally sensitive care and to better elucidate the role of culture in mental illness. This study explored the idiom Tsûsa ǃNaeǃkhais xa hâǃnâ/mâǃnâ/ǂgâǃnâhe hâ (a terrible event has entered a person and remains standing inside), which was understood to relate to experiences of trauma and post-traumatic stress, among speakers of Khoekhoegowab, a southern-African click language. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants from six urban and rural communities in Namibia. Questions probed perceptions of the idiom in terms of etiology, course, and risk and resilience factors from a socio-ecological framework. Five key themes were identified using thematic analysis: origin in a shocking event; intrusive recurrence of memories, “it keeps on coming back”; the close interplay between mental and physical suffering; the importance of active engagement in healing through prayer and acceptance; and the role of the community in both alleviating and amplifying distress. Our findings highlight local norms and strategies for adaptive coping, and the benefits of exploring local idioms to elucidate the braiding together of universal and cultural elements in psychological distress.

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“…Sexual violence usually occurs because of a child's environment that makes them vulnerable to being victims of sexual violence, such as sexual abuse. Cases of violence against children, especially sexual violence, are serious matters that must be considered and handled carefully by the government (de Klerk et al, 2022) (Velloza et al, 2022). Seeing the many cases of sexual violence that occur to children, the Makassar City Government is committed to improving the quality of life of women and children in various fields and increasing the role of women and child protection in development by stipulating the Makassar Mayor's regulation on the Integrated Service Center for Women and Children (P2TP2A).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Makassar City Government Performance in Handling Cases of Sexual Violance Against Children

Rahman

Rijal²,

Askar³

et al. 2022

Sosiohumaniora

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This study aims to find out how the performance of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit for the Protection of Women and Children in handling cases of sexual violence against children in Makassar City, besides that this study will also describe how to handle sexual violence around the world. The research method used is a descriptive method using a qualitative approach with data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis uses miles, huberman, and saldana models consisting of data condensation, data presentation and inference. Performance as a public bureaucracy is supported by human resources from various fields so as to be able to develop programs that support organizational performance that cannot be separated from sops based on security guarantees

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Disclosure and help-seeking behaviors related to sexual and physical violence in childhood and adolescence: Results from the Namibia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey

Cited by 9 publications

References 55 publications

Exploring children’s formal help-seeking behaviour for violence in Zimbabwe: analysis of national survey and routine service provider data

Exploring children’s formal help-seeking behaviour for violence in Zimbabwe: analysis of national survey and routine service provider data

Still Standing Inside: A Local Idiom Related to Trauma among Namibian Speakers of Khoekhoegowab

Makassar City Government Performance in Handling Cases of Sexual Violance Against Children

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