An exploration of the critical factors influencing Child Sexual Abuse in the Society:

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.