Abstract:
To combat child sexual abuse, the Tanzanian government has implemented systems,
regulations, and guidelines to eradicate the problem. Nonetheless, despite the government of
Tanzania's extensive protocols, regulations, and standards, the problem of child sexual abuse
persists. This therefore prompted the researcher to explore critical factors influencing child
sexual abuse in the society using Arusha city as case study. Specific objectives of this study
were; to find out how the cultural factors influence the child sexual abuse in the society, to
assess how the social factors influence the child sexual abuse in the society and to determine
how the institutional capacity influence the child sexual abuse in the society. This study was
based on a case study design. This study targeted citizens of Arusha city. This study used
non-probability specifically convenience sampling technique to select respondents. This
research used of both primary and secondary data. In-depth personal interviews and
questionnaire were used to obtain primary data. Secondary data were obtained through
documentary review. Data from interviews was analysed using thematic analysis. The
questionnaire data was statistically analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. given
by SPSS version 26. Findings showed that the myths and beliefs as well as tendency of
silence and nondisclosure influence the child sexual abuse in the society. Findings showed
that, poverty, moral degradation, violence among family members, urbanization and foreign
culture influence the child sexual abuse in the society. In this study, results portrayed that lack
of child law amendment and ineffective law enforcement influence the child sexual abuse in
the society. The study concludes that there is a positive relationship between cultural factors
and child sexual abuse. The study concludes that there is a positive relationship between
social factors and child sexual abuse, Also, the concluded there is a positive relationship
between institutional capacity and child sexual abuse. The researcher recommends that
further studies can conducted in other regions, cities and towns in Tanzania using the same
sample or could include a large population, in order to explore critical factors influencing child
sexual abuse in the society and to allow generalization of the findings to a wider population.
