Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1984.

Background Child abuse is a serious and devastating problem rooted within our communities. According to the South African Police Services (SAPS) crime statistics of 2006 & 2007, the four most common crimes committed (and attempted) against children were rape, common assault, and assault with attempt to do grievous bodily harm. Because this problem has it's roots within our homes and communities it must be unpacked from a community level. Aim and objectives: This study aims to describe the patterns of child abuse in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town and to gain insight into the knowledge and perceptions of the Ravensmead Community regarding child physical and sexual abuse. Methods This was done by exploring the knowledge and perceptions of the Ravensmead community on various aspects of child physical and sexual abuse including perceptions of victim and perpetrator profiles, responses to victims of child physical and sexual abuse, their knowledge of and access to avenues of help. The study also describes the patterns of child abuse in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town as documented in the case record reviews of children presenting to the Karl Bremer Hospital at the Rape crises Centre. In order to explore the knowledge of the Ravensmead community of child physical and sexual abuse, the researcher designed a structured questionnaire and conducted a door-to-door survey. A total of 279 respondents were obtained. Specific areas of enquiry included knowledge of definitions, perceptions of perpetrators, perceptions of predisposing circumstances and perception of avenues for help and where education programs should be aimed. Patterns of Child physical and sexual abuse presenting at the Rape Crises Centre at Karl Bremer Hospital was determined by conducting a case record review. Information regarding victim and perpetrator profiles, injuries sustained and home circumstance as documented in these case records was described. An in-depth interview conducted at the Rape Crises centre with parents of child victims of physical and sexual abuse provided qualitative information relating to patterns and perceptions of child physical and sexual abuse. Data from these three methods was then triangulated. Study design The researcher has chosen to do a descriptive study using methodological triangulation. The aim of the research is to describe the patterns of child abuse (physical and sexual) and to gain further insight into the perceptions and knowledge of the Ravensmead Community regarding child sexual and physical abuse. This was undertaken using a descriptive study design. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used to enhance the overall validity of the results. Setting Ravensmead is an impoverished community in the Northern Suburbs of the Western Cape. The high rate of crimes committed against children in this community is a reflection of the situation in the rest of the country. The Karl Bremer hospital Rape Crisis Center is the centre to which all cases of child sexual abuse and child physical abuse occurring in the northern suburbs of Cape Town presents. Staff is trained in offering the necessary medical, medico legal and psychological support to victims abuse. Results Only 15% of respondents to the questionnaire survey demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes child abuse. Although respondents demonstrated understanding of some characteristics relating to victim and perpetrator profiles they failed to recognize certain circumstances that predisposes to child abuse. The In-depth interviews also found that most families of victims of child sexual abuse did suspect that the abuse could occur under the circumstance, which it did. The perception that children are sometimes to blame for the abuse is still held by some members of the community although they are in the minority. Few respondents were able to identify avenues for help other than the police station. However, the in-depth interviews demonstrates that several fears exist regarding reporting abuse to the police, reducing the practical accessibility of this service. The mean age of victims presenting to the Karl Bremer Hospital Rape Crises centre was 6.18yrs and 36% of cases presented was during the period from November to January. Absence of visible injuries could not exclude the diagnosis of sexual or physical abuse. Information relating to home circumstances and perpetrator profiles was lacking. Conclusion The research suggests that knowledge regarding child physical and sexual abuse in the Ravensmead community is lacking. Barriers exist to accessing avenues for help within the community. Greater community empowerment is required in order to effectively combat the problem of child physical and sexual abuse.

No / Discussion of the declared policies of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, since 2001, with regard to the ongoing status of priests convicted in criminal courts of offences against children is presented. The extent to which these policies have followed recommendations 77 and 78 of A Programme for Action (Nolan, 2001a) and the extent to which they have resulted in the laicisation (removal from the clerical state) of priests are both explored, using national data and with reference to two particular cases from the Diocese of Salford. The potentially adverse impact on victims and survivors of any mismatch between the rhetoric of policy and the reality of practice by the Church is emphasised. Data presented demonstrate that, between November 2001 and September 2010, a majority (64%) of relevantly convicted and sentenced priests had not been laicised as would be expected. Suggestion is made that the Church is inhibited in carrying out its declared policies because it is attempting to serve legitimacy communities beyond victims and survivors of clerical abuse. Full commitment to the paramountcy principle by the Church and genuinely independent external scrutiny of its relevant decision-making processes are recommended.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online through Digital Dissertations.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--University of Hartford, 1997. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--University of Hartford, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

This retrospective descriptive study reviews sexually abused children who presented to the Child Abuse Team at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH) between 1 January 1986 and 31 June 1988. During this period 365 children were referred to the Child Abuse Team, of whom 357 were entered into this study. 297 of these were cases of confirmed sexual abuse. There were 48 male children and 123 children under 6 years of age. Most children were victims of a single episode of sexual abuse with only 13, 7% presenting following repeated abuse. More serious forms of sexual abuse, rape or sodomy, were common, accounting for 60% of the cases. Over 70% of the children had physical signs to substantiate their claims of having been sexually abused. Sexually transmitted disease was a common finding, being present in 15,6 % at presentation. All children were accompanied to hospital by an adult, usually a parent. 60% of the children presented directly to RCWMCH. A delay between abuse and presentation was common, only 42% of the children presenting within 48 hours of having been abused. Physical problems frequently required management. Very few children received more than crisis intervention for their emotional state and only 20% needed any form of intervention to ensure their safety. Only 1% of cases involved a female abuser. In general, the age of the abuser was older than previously reported with 18, 6% being under 20 years of age. The relationship between abused and abuser was similar to that described in the literature, as was the reaction of the family against the abuser. 27,4% were prosecuted and of those that appeared in court 7 4, 5% were convicted. Further comparison of the following sub-groups of abused children are presented: male and female, young and old, intrafamilial and extrafamilial abuse, a single episode of abuse and repeated abuse.

No / Accounts of the Catholic Church's response to those disclosing sexual abuse by clergy to diocesan safeguarding commissions (formerly child protection commissions) in England and Wales are analysed and compared. The accounts given and the conclusions reached by the Church and those it employs or has commissioned are considered alongside the experiences reported by survivors. The contrasts between these narratives are discussed using techniques underpinned by critical discourse analysis and highlighting service user perspectives. Reports for the period to 2010 and published in 2011 by the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission and Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors are discussed in detail, with the resulting analysis of the narratives emerging arguably reflecting a broader discourse. It is suggested that, despite attempts to present the situation differently, the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales continues to be hampered in its efforts to respond sensitively to the needs of those who have been abused, because, as an institution, it also continues to serve conflicting legitimacy communities, and that, as a result, it risks further alienating those victims and survivors who have been led to expect that their needs will be prioritised over the financial interests and reputation of the institution.