Empowerment services for sexually abused children offered by non-profit organisations in the Western Cape

Date
2019-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a global pandemic which attains constant media attention. The scourge of child sexual abuse is ever-growing and resources to address the issues related to CSA are diminishing; this, despite South Africa being a forerunner in the development of policy and legislation to protect children against such abuse. The ecological perspective was used as the theoretical framework for this study. The research question for the study was: “What is the nature of empowerment services rendered by non-profit organisations (NPOs) in the Western Cape?” Therefore, the goal of the study which is to contribute to an improved understanding of the nature of empowerment services rendered by non-profit organisations to sexually abused children was achieved. Appropriate recommendations could thus be made in keeping with current policy and legislative frameworks related to child sexual abuse. A qualitative research approach was applied, using an exploratory and descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants, who are service providers at NPOs that render services in the field of child sexual abuse. Service providers working at NPOs in the Western Cape were selected through purposive non-probability sampling. Data analysis was guided by the eight step approach offered by Tesch (1990) in Creswell (2014). Significant findings of the study were that service providers employed by NPOs have difficulty translating policy and legislation into direct service provision; as service provision is often hampered due to lack of adequate funding and resources. It became increasingly evident that substantial collaboration is required between NPOs and government in order to address the scourge of child sexual abuse. Even more significant findings are the apparent increase in peer related child sexual abuse and the lack of referrals of victims of child trafficking to service providers.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Seksuele kindermishandeling is ’n globale pandemie wat konstant media-aandag verg. Die plaag van seksuele kindermishandelings is aan die toeneem en hulpbronne om die bydraende faktore daarvan aan te spreek is aan die afneem. Dit gebeur ten spyte daarvan dat Suid Afrika aan die stuur is van die onwikkeling van beleid en wetgewing om kinders teen seksuele kindermishandeling te beskerm. Die ekologiese perspektief is gebruik as teoretiese raamwerk vir die studie. Die navorsingsvraag van die studie was: “Wat is die aard van bemagtigingsdienste aan kinders wat seksueel mishandel is deur nie-winsgewende organisasies (NROs) in die Wes-Kaap?” Dus was die doel van die studie om ʼn bydrae te lewer tot die begrip van bemagtigingsdienste gelewer deur NROs aan seksueel mishandelde kinders. Toepaslike aanbevelings is dus gemaak aan die hand van huidige beleid en wetgewing wat verband hou met seksuele kindermishandeling. ʼn Kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gebruik tesame met ʼn verkennende en beskrywende ontwerp. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met 20 deelnemers wat diensverskaffers is by NROs wat dienste lewer in die veld van seksuele kindermishandeling. Diensverskaffers, werksaam by NROs in die Wes-Kaap, is deur middel van ’n doelbewuste en nie-waarskynlike steekproef geselekteer. Data-analise is gelei deur die agt stappe van data-analise soos voorgestel deur Tesch (1990) in Creswell (2014). Betekenisvolle bevindinge is dat diensverskaffers in NROs dit moeilik vind om beleid en wetgewing te omskep in direkte dienslewering aan kinders wat seksueel mishandel is. Dienslewering word dikwels bemoeilik deur ʼn gebrek aan genoegsame befondsing en hulpbronne. Dit het grotendeels duidelik geword dat heelwat samewerking benodig word tussen NROs en die staat om die plaag van seksuele kindermishandeling aan te spreek. Nog meer betekenisvolle bevindinge is die oënskynlike toename van eweknie seksuele mishandeling van kinders en die gebrek aan verwysings vir dienste aan slagoffers van kinderhandel.
Description
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.
Keywords
Child sexual abuse -- Services for, Nonprofit organizations -- South Africa -- Western Cape -- Case studies, Nonprofit organizations -- South Africa -- Western Cape, UCTD
Citation