Working with sexually abused children and conducting forensic assessments is a difficult task for many professionals working in the field of child sexual abuse. In this specialised field, it is imperative that professionals are aware of the disclosure process, as well as what contributes to, or hampers the disclosure of sexual abuse. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the disclosure of sexual abuse during middle childhood years from a forensic social work perspective. Research indicates that there are numerous factors that can play a role in the disclosure of sexual abuse, but that there are still shortcomings about disclosure in literature. The researcher adopted a qualitative approach to explore the disclosure patterns of sexual abuse during middle childhood with professionals working in the field of forensic social work. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals who have experience in forensic social work. The interviews focused on the disclosure patterns of children during middle childhood, as well as the relationship with the perpetrator, the responses of the caregiver that is characterised by shock and denial, how long children take to disclose sexual abuse, the relationship between the caregiver and the child concerned, as well as recommendations in the context of forensic social work and the disclosure of sexual abuse. The data from the semi-structured interviews was analysed and divided into themes and subthemes, which were further described and linked with the relevant literature. It became clear that the disclosure of child sexual abuse is a complex phenomenon, which is valuable when working in the forensic context. The disclosure process was explored, and certain factors were highlighted that contribute to the disclosure of sexual abuse, as well as factors that hamper disclosure. Some of these factors include intra- and extra-familial abuse, the developmental stage of the child concerned, negative responses from the caregiver, the presence of threats and grooming as characteristics of the relationship between the child and the perpetrator, positive attachment with a caregiver that contributes to disclosure and the highly individualised cases of child sexual abuse. The respondents also made practical recommendations regarding disclosure and indicated how important it is to have the necessary training in order to handle the disclosure of sexual abuse in the correct manner. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The researcher is a member of the South African Police Service, attached to Family violence, Child protection and Sexual Offences Unit in the Eastern Cape, dealing with victims of child sexual abuse. It had come to the researcher’s attention that some children are being sexually abused by family relatives and some are sexually abused by the known people for different reasons which are based on their beliefs and knowledge about child sexual abuse. Most of these cases are of children who are living in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape. The numbers of such cases are increasing in Ngqeleni, Libode, Mqanduli, Mthatha and Lusikisiki; hence the study is based on those areas of the Eastern Cape. The people living in these areas speak isiXhosa. No study known of such has been conducted in this geographic area; it appears that this problem was never brought to light, at all. This matter of child sexual abuse in these areas was never addressed. The aim of the research is to know more about the beliefs and knowledge of isiXhosa-speaking people regarding child sexual abuse in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, and also to look at the strategies and programmes that can be implemented in order to make parents, children and the community at large of isiXhosa-speaking areas aware of child sexual abuse. Purposive sampling was conducted with Forensic Social workers at the South African Police Service, Social workers at Department of Social Development, and Social workers at Umtata Child Abuse Resource Centre, parents dealing with children and community members that are members of Lekgotla. The research done in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape shows that the isiXhosa-speaking people of the rural areas of the Eastern Cape have little knowledge of child sexual abuse and those that indeed do know what to do are obstructed by their beliefs about child sexual abuse; hence they do not report it and some do not consider it as being sexual abuse. The people concerned working in these areas are afraid to report incidents of child abuse, thinking that they will lose their job should they report the incidents to law enforcement agencies or to social workers. The study shows that neither awareness programmes were presented nor any education done in these areas about child sexual abuse. Children in these areas are vulnerable due to ignorance, lack of knowledge, beliefs of their parents and the beliefs of the perpetrators and their lack knowledge. There is a vast need for extended programmes, awareness and education projects to be conducted by the social workers in Government and Non-Government organizations in the remote areas, at school, and in the communities of these areas. Teachers at pre-school and primary school levels and parents need to be educated on child sexual abuse. This study addressed the issue of child sexual abuse looking at the beliefs of isiXhosa-speaking people. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The goal of the study is to develop a structured play therapy intervention model to mitigate the effect of childhood sexual abuse. South Africa has one of the highest prevalence rates for child sexual abuse, and professionals working with children are consequently faced with the phenomenon on an increasing scale. Many professionals find themselves ill-equipped to address the effect of sexual abuse on the child, and the lack of an integrated understanding of the phenomenon seems to exacerbate this need. In order to effectively address the effect of sexual abuse on the child, professionals need a holistic understanding of this phenomenon and its effects, as well as a clear outline of the necessary interventions. The thesis consists of five sections, which can be outlined as follows: Section A consists of the problem statement, the research questions, the research objective, the general theoretical assumption and the theoretical approach. It includes the research methodology, the limitations of the research, definitions of the key terms and the selection and structure of the dissertation. The research focused on the following specific objectives stemming from the problem statement: -To conduct a thorough literature study on various aspects pertaining to childhood sexual abuse in order to form a holistic, well-researched perspective on the phenomenon of childhood sexual abuse and the available evidence-based interventions in the sexual abuse of children; -To develop a structured play therapy intervention model to mitigate the effect of childhood sexual abuse; -To subject the prototype of the proposed intervention model to peer review in order to determine its strengths and weaknesses and make the necessary adaptations to the model prior to its final dissemination. Section B consists of four articles, in which the goals of the research, the outcomes of the literature study and the empirical study are reported. Each article is dealt with as a self-contained unit focusing on a specific aspect of the research and contributing to the collection of data necessary for the design and evaluation of the proposed intervention model. Article 1 Knowledge of the legislation pertaining to sexual abuse is imperative for health care professionals working with a child who has been sexually abused. This article provides a critical analysis of those aspects of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 32 of 2007, relevant to the health care professional. The shortcomings of the Act and the practical implications of these for healthcare professionals is pointed out. Focus also falls on the relevant sections of the Childcare Act, 38 of 2005 and how these sections complement the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 32 of 2007). Article 2 In order to effectively help traumatised children to achieve positive outcomes, professionals must have a clearly-defined methodology, underpinned by theory and based on an integrated approach. The first step towards this is clearly to redefine the phenomenon of child sexual abuse. As sexual abuse is both a legal and a psychosocial phenomenon, the authors are of the opinion that a more integrative definition is necessary in the South African context. The information in this article therefore aims to provide health care professionals with an integrative definition that takes into account both the South African legal definition of sexual abuse and the underlying psychosocial factors associated with it.Article 3 Sexual abuse is a phenomenon with far-reaching effects. This article provides a holistic look at the effects of sexual abuse from an ecological systems perspective. The effect of sexual abuse on the child as the focus of the microsystems is emphasized, as well as the effects on the parents or the child’s caregiver as the mesosystem. The article further considers the interactive dynamics between the different systems and explains how each system can contribute to either mitigating or exacerbating the effects of abuse on the child. Article 4 The research goal of this article is to develop and evaluate a structured play therapy intervention model to mitigate the effects of child sexual abuse. The intervention model was developed from the results of the previous articles as well as an in-depth literature study on existing therapeutic interventions. To fulfil the aim of this article, the following objectives are set: -To give an outline of the research methodology underlying the study; -To discuss the problem analysis and project plan; -To outline the intervention model for mitigating the effects of child sexual abuse; -To discuss the research findings on the proposed model. Section C gives a summary of the most important findings and conclusions regarding the research in general. It also contains recommendations and points to the contribution made to the specific field of study. Section D consists of the addenda to the research report, for example, the different instruments of measurement and the questionnaires. Section E concludes the thesis with summarized references. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Dealing with child sexual abuse cases, is an integral part of the social workers job. Due to the nature of the abuse and the provisions made by the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005, as amended, to safeguard the child victim, many social workers remove children of child sexual abuse cases and place them in alternative care. The aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of social workers on the reasons why child sexual abuse cases in alternative care is not finalized. Some of the factors that play a role in not finalising these cases are: the high case loads of the courts and social workers, the lack of cooperation from the South African Police Service, the notion that if a child is removed, the child is safe and further intervention is a luxury. This study reveals that there is a lack in training and adequate knowledge on how to deal with child sexual abuse cases. The study also indicates that a lack of communication between the role players in child sexual abuse cases exists, causing some social workers to lose their drive for these cases. Due to the high amount of cases of the Police, the courts and the social workers, these cases are not always seen as a priority and the fact that the child is not as adequate a witness as he/she needs to be, finalising these cases are not very successful. Another reality made known from this study, is that there is a dire need for forensic social workers in the field and alongside it, there is a lack of funds, prohibiting social workers to make use of the few forensic social workers in private practice. It was indicated that forum meetings and training be provided to all the stake holders in child sexual abuse cases, as well as to develop a clear protocol, indicating how to deal with these cases and explain each stakeholder’s role and responsibilities. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Working with sexually abused children and conducting forensic assessments is a difficult task for many professionals working in the field of child sexual abuse. In this specialised field, it is imperative that professionals are aware of the disclosure process, as well as what contributes to, or hampers the disclosure of sexual abuse. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the disclosure of sexual abuse during middle childhood years from a forensic social work perspective. Research indicates that there are numerous factors that can play a role in the disclosure of sexual abuse, but that there are still shortcomings about disclosure in literature. The researcher adopted a qualitative approach to explore the disclosure patterns of sexual abuse during middle childhood with professionals working in the field of forensic social work. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals who have experience in forensic social work. The interviews focused on the disclosure patterns of children during middle childhood, as well as the relationship with the perpetrator, the responses of the caregiver that is characterised by shock and denial, how long children take to disclose sexual abuse, the relationship between the caregiver and the child concerned, as well as recommendations in the context of forensic social work and the disclosure of sexual abuse. The data from the semi-structured interviews was analysed and divided into themes and subthemes, which were further described and linked with the relevant literature. It became clear that the disclosure of child sexual abuse is a complex phenomenon, which is valuable when working in the forensic context. The disclosure process was explored, and certain factors were highlighted that contribute to the disclosure of sexual abuse, as well as factors that hamper disclosure. Some of these factors include intra- and extra-familial abuse, the developmental stage of the child concerned, negative responses from the caregiver, the presence of threats and grooming as characteristics of the relationship between the child and the perpetrator, positive attachment with a caregiver that contributes to disclosure and the highly individualised cases of child sexual abuse. The respondents also made practical recommendations regarding disclosure and indicated how important it is to have the necessary training in order to handle the disclosure of sexual abuse in the correct manner. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The researcher is a member of the South African Police Service, attached to Family violence, Child protection and Sexual Offences Unit in the Eastern Cape, dealing with victims of child sexual abuse. It had come to the researcher’s attention that some children are being sexually abused by family relatives and some are sexually abused by the known people for different reasons which are based on their beliefs and knowledge about child sexual abuse. Most of these cases are of children who are living in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape. The numbers of such cases are increasing in Ngqeleni, Libode, Mqanduli, Mthatha and Lusikisiki; hence the study is based on those areas of the Eastern Cape. The people living in these areas speak isiXhosa. No study known of such has been conducted in this geographic area; it appears that this problem was never brought to light, at all. This matter of child sexual abuse in these areas was never addressed. The aim of the research is to know more about the beliefs and knowledge of isiXhosa-speaking people regarding child sexual abuse in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, and also to look at the strategies and programmes that can be implemented in order to make parents, children and the community at large of isiXhosa-speaking areas aware of child sexual abuse. Purposive sampling was conducted with Forensic Social workers at the South African Police Service, Social workers at Department of Social Development, and Social workers at Umtata Child Abuse Resource Centre, parents dealing with children and community members that are members of Lekgotla. The research done in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape shows that the isiXhosa-speaking people of the rural areas of the Eastern Cape have little knowledge of child sexual abuse and those that indeed do know what to do are obstructed by their beliefs about child sexual abuse; hence they do not report it and some do not consider it as being sexual abuse. The people concerned working in these areas are afraid to report incidents of child abuse, thinking that they will lose their job should they report the incidents to law enforcement agencies or to social workers. The study shows that neither awareness programmes were presented nor any education done in these areas about child sexual abuse. Children in these areas are vulnerable due to ignorance, lack of knowledge, beliefs of their parents and the beliefs of the perpetrators and their lack knowledge. There is a vast need for extended programmes, awareness and education projects to be conducted by the social workers in Government and Non-Government organizations in the remote areas, at school, and in the communities of these areas. Teachers at pre-school and primary school levels and parents need to be educated on child sexual abuse. This study addressed the issue of child sexual abuse looking at the beliefs of isiXhosa-speaking people. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Afrikaans text / Kindermolestering het die afgelope vyftien jaar 'n toenemende probleem in Suid-Afrika geword. Baie aandag is aan die slagoffer gegee, tenvyl die kindermolesteerder as kardinale deel van die probleem heeltemal verwaarloos is. Laasgenoemde maak hierdie navorsingsondersoek ten opsigte van die kindermolesteerder dringend noodsaaklik. en prosesse in die lewe van die kindermolesteerder, waaruit 'n ryk en indiepte beskrywing van die kindennolesteerder gevolg het. Die tweede fase is kwantitatief benader en navorser het gebruik gemaak van 'n onderhoudskedule wat aan 'n meer omvangryke groep kindermolesteerders en verkragters voorgele is om hulle reaksie op die data syfennatig te bepaal. Verkragters is gekies omdat hulle en die molesteerders 'n seksuele misdryf as gemene deler het. Navorser wou met laasgenoemde die bruikbaarheid van die skedule bepaal en verdere ondersteuning vir die ondersoek verkry. Hierdie data is rekenaarmatig verwerk en skematies uitgebeeld. Die navorsingsondersoek het aan die lig gebring dat kindermolesteerders uit disfunksionele gesinne kom, waarin hulle persoonlikheidseienskappe en gedragspatrone aangeleer het, wat kan lei tot kindermolestering. Laasgenoemde word deur bevindings ten opsigte van Hierdie navorsingsondersoek het 'n bydrae tot die wetenskaplike kennis gemaak deurdat die bruikbaarheid van pluralisme in die ondersoek uitgewys is; • ooreenkomste en verskille tussen kindermolesteerders en verkragters geYdentifiseer is; • die prominente rol van pornografie in kindermolestering aan die lig gekom het; • 'n profiel van die kindermolesteerder saamgestel is; die gedrag van die molesteerder teoreties verklaar is; • 'n behandelingstruktuur vir die oortreder saamgestel is. Aanbevelings vir die toekomstige bantering van die kindermolesteerder en verdere navorsing in die verband is gemaak. Die doel van hierdie navorsingsondersoek is om 'n omvattende beeld van die kindermolesteerder as oortreder te verkry ten einde die probleem van kindermolestering aan te spreek. Hierdie ondersoek is pluralisties benader en het in opeenvolgende fases plaasgevind. Fase een is kwalitatief benader en navorser het semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude gevoer met tien kindermolesteerders aan die hand van 'n onderhoudsgids. Aandag is gegee aan die gebeure / Over the past fifteen years child molestation has become a growing problem in South Africa. Much attention has been given to the victim while the child molester as a cardinal part ofthe problem has been completely neglected, which made this study of the child molester crucial. The purpose of this study is to obtain a comprehensive picture of the child molester as offender in order to tackle the problem of child molestation. The research was conducted in consecutive phases from a pluralistic approach. The first phase was qualitative and the researcher conducted semi$tructured interviews with ten child molesters, based on an interview guide. Attention was given to the events and processes in the lives of the child molesters. From this a rich and detailed description of the child molesters was obtained. The second phase was quantitative and the researcher used an interview schedule which was presented to a more comprehensive group of child molesters and rapists to determine their reaction to the data statistically. Rapists were chosen because they and the child molesters had a sexual offence as common denominator. By using rapists the researcher wanted to detennine the usefulness of the schedule and gain further support for the investigation. The data were processed by computer and depicted schematically. The research revealed that child molesters come from dysfunctional families, in which they acquired personality traits and behavioural patterns which can lead to child molestation. The latter is supported by findings on rapists. child molesters. From this a rich and detailed description of the child molesters was obtained. The second phase was quantitative and the researcher used an interview schedule which was presented to a more comprehensive group of child molesters and rapists to determine their reaction to the data statistically. Rapists were chosen because they and the child molesters had a sexual offence as common denominator. By using rapists the researcher wanted to detennine the usefulness of the schedule and gain further support for the investigation. The data were processed by computer and depicted schematically. The research revealed that child molesters come from dysfunctional families, in which they acquired personality traits and behavioural patterns which can lead to child molestation. The latter is supported by findings on rapists. A profile of the child molester was compiled and Bandura's social learning theory used to explain his behaviour. To deal with the problem of child molestation, a treatment schedule was developed for the child molester. This study has contributed to scientific knowledge by • showing the usefulness of pluralism in the investigation • identifying similarities and differences between child molesters and rapists • revealing the prominent role of pornography in child molestation • compiling a profile of the child molester • explaining the behaviour of the molester theoretically • developing a treatment structure for the offender Recommendations are made for the future treatment of the child molester and further research. / Criminology and Security Studies / D.Phil. (Kriminologie)

This study was based on subjective attitudes towards wife rape of 85 women and detailed interviews with 20 of them. It aimed to measure the relation between traditionalism and use of the term wife rape, awareness of wife rape and of its criminalisation; and to understand women's experiences and subjective definitions of wife rape and their coping strategies. Once wife rape was problematised, definitions varied. Women holding more traditional attitudes (informal settlement women) were less likely to define the wife's experience in a vignette as wife rape than women holding less traditional (shelter women) and non-traditional attitudes (Network identified women). Additionally, women holding more non-traditional attitudes were more likely to define the event as wife rape than were other women. Similar intergroup differences in traditionalism on awareness of wife rape and its criminalisation emerged. The line between sexual violence and violent sexuality was a thin one at times. / M.A (Pshychology)

In Canada, the lifetime prevalence of the sexual abuse of boys is estimated at one in six (Dorais, 2009; Dube, Anda, Whitfield, Brown, Felitti, Dong, & Giles, 2005; Hopper, 2010; Briere & Elliot, 2003). Despite growing awareness of male victims of childhood sexual abuse, it is estimated that police reports are made in only 4.4% of cases (Priebe & Svedin, 2008). There continues to be little understanding as to why the reporting rate is so low. A sample of 155 male survivors of childhood sexual abuse was obtained through a community agency that provides support to this population. Data were gathered from participants’ intake forms on four variables that were expected to influence police reporting: 1) the survivors' age at the time of the first incident 2) the duration of the abuse; 3) the relationship between the survivor and the perpetrator; and 4) the sex of the perpetrator. It was predicted that the perpetrator's sex would be the most powerful predictor of a male's decision to report sexual abuse because of the ‘feminization of victimization’ phenomenon. This is the culturally based assumption that victims are female and perpetrators are male that leads male victims’ to question their own experiences and to a tendency by others to not take their victimization seriously. The findings revealed that perpetrator sex was not a significant predictor of police reporting. Only abuse duration was associated with whether a police report had been made. Other important findings were: 1) the mean age of this sample seeking support for childhood abuse was 50 years; 2) in almost 30% of cases, abuse began before the participant was six years old; 3) 49% of participants had been abused by family members; 4) 20% of participants had been abused by female perpetrators; and 5) in 75% of cases, a police report had not been made. Further research is needed to identify the factors influencing whether sexual abuse of boys is reported to police in order to enhance support services and police response. / May 2016

This study focuses on the functional identities of legal witness, legal victim, and legal perpetrator and their co-construction in the forensic interviews that take place after allegations of child sexual abuse have been made. I argue that while these are inter-related identities, the focus of their constitution and the direction of their constructional dependencies is determined by the event context. Nineteen transcripts of forensic interviews involving children ages 3 to 12 were collected during a three-month period at a children's center in a western state.Legal witness as an identity of performance, is constituted in performance. Interview processes socialize children to these performances. Ritualized sequences within interviews also provide evidence that children have the qualities required of a legal witness. Children are constructed as legal victims in interview processes that establish they have been acted upon according to specific actions defined in the law. This mutually constitutes the legal perpetrator. Children, however, resist both interpellation as a legal victim and elements of the process of the interview affecting how they are perceived as legal witnesses. Analysis also reveals that the purpose of the interview within the extended legal process inherently shapes the accounts and narratives that are co-produced.The addition of a third interview participant is also considered. Second interviewers provided a complex co-construction process that can support the constitution of the legal witness identity. Relatives of the child also provide a complex process. If they are perceived as co-authoring the narratives or accounts, however, they may negatively affect the legal witness identity. The addition of an interpreter can facilitate the child's co-construction as a legal witness. As pre-trial events, forensic interviews are not subject to trial requirements for trained interpreters. In the case considered here, the untrained interpreter produced language that was less precise, more personal, and had the potential to affect the legal implication of questions.Finally, I discuss the therapeutic, theoretical, and the social, cultural, and political implications of the study.