Child sexual abuse and its potentially traumatizing consequences, over both the short- and longer term, has been increasingly recognized in the literature as a possible pathway to the development of intra- and interpersonal maladjustment, affecting the mental well-being of those affected. There is a paucity of local research investigating the systemic impact of a child's sexual abuse upon the caregiving and family systems in which the child is integrally embedded. The current research was conducted primarily in response to this, with the intention of illuminating the experiences of caregivers and families managing their child's experience of sexual abuse. More specifically, the research was interested in the experiences and perceptions of caregivers of children who had been sexually abused by an extrafamilial person. The phenomenological approach informed the planning, implementation, analysis and interpretation phases of the research. The sample included six mothers / female caregivers who had discovered their child's sexual abuse no less than three months and no longer than twelve months prior to the research being conducted. Maternal caregivers were the primary source of information regarding their own experiences, as well as spokespersons for the caregiving family unit and its members. Two semistructured interviews were planned for each respondent, the first interview aimed at eliciting their experiences and perceptions, and the second interview aimed primarily at providing debriefing and feedback. In view of the highly sensitive nature of the interview topic, the second interview was structured primarily out of ethical concerns for the respondent's well-being as a consequence of the interviewing. Results of the interviews suggest that these caregivers were faced with a host of complex experiences related to three broad thematic areas, namely: their involvement with the criminal justice system; managing the child's and family's distress; and themes around coping and support. A number of sub-themes were identified within and across these three broad thematic areas, representing a complex interaction between dominant experiences. Caregivers were typically faced with a series of dilemmas and decisions in their interactions with their child, family, and the criminal justice system. Based upon the findings, a number of suggestions have been made in terms of policy and protocol development for intervening with such families and their children. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent, pattern and forms of child sexual abuse amongst university students / to investigate the degree of sexual coercion / to examine victim-perpetrator relationships / to determine the extent to which students are bothered by the event at the time of completing the Early Sexual Experiences Checklist / to establish the age of the student at the time the event occurred and also the age of the other person involved when the event occurred / and to determine the frequency of the coercive event.

Gestalt play therapy court assessment / Child victim / Sexual crime / Legal professionals / Assessment guideline / Intermediary / Text in Afrikaans / As a source of information the court needs to be convinced of the witness's credibility and the ability to recall and communicate the truth regarding the Incident. Mostly the court uses the expertise of an expert witness to assist it in making a decision regarding the way in which a child needs to testify in court. Experts in this field are challenged to align the legal requirements with those of their field of expertise. In this research the Gestalt therapeutic approach is used to design an assessment guideline to assist experts to assess the ability of child victims of sexual crimes to testify in court. The Gestalt therapeutic approach focuses on the present (here and now) and has the ability to obtain access to the information present in the child's life. In the proposed assessment guideline certain Gestalt play therapy methods are recommended to assist the expert to assessing the child victim of a sexual crime. / Play therapy / M.Diac. (Play therapy)

Sexual abuse of children occurs at a very high rate and most of the victims are young children who have never been taught about the possibility of being abused. Victims of abuse are not equipped with appropriate knowledge and vocabulary to enable them to explain properly when they experience abuse. Acquisition of a vocabulary and understanding of the concepts of sexuality would assist children in recognizing, resisting and reporting sexual abuse. The young age at which abuse occurs makes the study at primary school level important and relevant. There is little literature on how child sexual abuse can be identified, addressed and handled by schools or what unique role the school should play in the management of child sexual abuse cases. Educators are in a position to identify sexually abused children because of their close and ongoing contact with school-going children. Therefore, young children place a great deal of trust in their teachers and look to them for protection when they feel unsafe. Teachers are trained to observe changes in the appearance and progress of individual children. Therefore, they can also assist in uncovering and reacting appropriately to disclosures of abuse. The study was conducted in poor, disadvantaged, rural primary schools in a part of the North West Province. There is a limited access to social work services in rural areas and therefore, educators are considered to be appropriate people to educate children about sexual abuse issues because children spend most of their time at school. There is a relationship between educators, parents and children which creates a proper channel of communicating information about sexual abuse of children. That is, educators are in a position not only to educate but also to reinforce what children have learnt at home. Educators' role have been limited in the identification and dealing with sexual abuse cases and therefore, there is a need to empower them with appropriate knowledge and skills to enable them to handle sexual abuse cases at school level successfully. / Psychology / M. A. (Psychology)

This study reflects a critical analysis of the procedures followed in child rape cases in Mpumalanga Province and in the process to enhance investigative capabilities with sound detective development. Empirical research was conducted with a literature review, docket analysis and interviews as methods to obtain information where the following important aspects were addressed: an overview of the field of forensic investigation, the shortcomings with regard to child rape investigations and correct procedures for conducting child rape investigations formulated. The study found that generally rape cases were not properly investigated, correct procedures were not followed (biological/physical evidence was not readily identified nor correctly handled) and applicable directives pertaining to child rape investigations not complied with. Investigators had a narrow understanding of the concept forensic investigation. In child rape investigations it would be of more evidential value and reliable to collect physical evidence such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids and saliva as the child’s testimony at court might not be reliable, particularly when subjected to cross examination. Rape is both a contact crime as well as a psychologically motivated crime and both aspects of the trauma needs attention during the investigation process. Crimes against women and children are also a national concern, thus making child rape a priority crime for the South African Police Service. For any successful prosecution it is necessary that policy and correct procedures are not compromised but rather strictly adhered to. The Locard Principle in relation to physical evidence such as body fluids at the crime scene needs to be focussed on during the investigation process. The research suggests that the current standing operating procedures be amended to include the critical aspects of child rape investigation such as processing of the crime scene, the search for biological evidence as well as the packaging and preservation of biological evidence. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

On t.p.: Master of Arts (Welfare Programme Management) / Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study of case management of sexually abused children by social workers was conducted in the Moses Kotane District Municipality, because of the following reasons: firstly, there is an escalation of reported cases that are referred from various service organizations to the Department of Social Services; secondly the statutory policies alone cannot be the absolute protection for children against sexual abuse; thirdly, as communities seem to ignore their roles in protecting children against this problem. The social workers end up carrying the ultimate responsibility to protect children. An exploratory study was therefore undertaken to investigate how social workers in the Moses Kotane District Municipality intervene in these cases. It is crucial for professionals to have the necessary knowledge, skills and correct attitude when they intervene in child sexual abuse cases. The study explored the various dynamics that motivate this problem as well as the circumstances that can expose children to the risk of child sexual abuse. Motivation to abuse children in the Moses Kotane District Municipality emanated from the family circumstances, characteristics of the abusive father(s) as well as a lack of community child care resources The social workers need to have insight in various risk factors of this problem. These may include the circumstances surrounding the child, community factors, societal factors, family factors and the attributes of professionals dealing with child sexual abuse cases. The knowledge of the dynamics and risk factors assists social workers to assess whether the child has been abused and to do risk assessment as well as need assessment of the victims and their families. Such information can assist the social workers to make a safety plan of action regarding the child victims. It is therefore vital that the social workers identify the nature of case management style through which they render services to sexually abused children. Direct service delivery, which is preferred by most social workers in the agency, and indirect service delivery are the two types of case management styles that social workers can employ, depending on whether they work in a generic social work setting or private child welfare agency. Although social workers may have the expertise and skill to intervene effectively in child sexual abuse cases, their interventions may be affected by various challenges and result in ineffective service delivery to the victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse. These challenges may include working conditions that are adverse, community trials of cases of child sexual abuse and unresponsive agency management. Other challenges may include resistance from clients, lack of supervision, lack of training in child sexual abuse work as well as the demanding nature of child sexual abuse work. Throughout the process of case management the social workers need to liaise and cooperate with the multi-professional team comprising of the police (CPU), medical personnel, the prosecutor(s), a psychologist as well as the family members. The team may vary from one agency to the other, however, the social worker, police and medical personnel need to be available at all the team meetings. None of these professionals is supposed to assess victims alone, because the assessment should be focused on the social, medical, psychological, legal, physical and material needs of sexually abused children. It is imperative that social workers are aware of how their attitudes, beliefs, emotions, perceptions and feelings affect the effectiveness of service delivery to these children. The professionals therefore need to be skilled to react responsively and professionally to the victims. Social skills are important for creating worthy client - worker relationships and to enhance accountability in role relationships between the clients and the professionals. By applying interactional skills, the social workers can create a child-friendly atmosphere during intervention, as the social worker can be able to listen empathetically and deal with feelings that surface during the interviews. By applying cognitive skills, the professionals can be in a position to "read" subtle emotions and feelings of the clients and assess the level of their cognitive functioning. The application of theory in practice is vital during intervention as decisions; judgement and interventions should be professional and not haphazard. The social worker thus needs to have knowledge of the perspectives, theories and models of social work. This study has provided such a framework to guide social workers in managing cases of child sexual abuse. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie oor hoe maatskaplike werkers gevallebestuur van seksueel gemolesteerde kinders doen, is in die Moses Kotane Munisipale Distrik onderneem om die volgende redes. Eerstens is daar 'n toename in die gerapporteerde gevalle van seksuele molestering wat deur verskeie diensorganisasies verwys word na die maatskaplike werkers in diens van Departement van Welsyn. Tweedens bied die statutêre beleid op sigself nie aan kinders algehele beskerming teen seksuele molestering nie. Derdens blyk dit dat van maatskaplike werkers verwag word om algehele verantwoordelikheid vir die beskerming van kinders te aanvaar omdat dit skyn asof gemeenskappe hulle rol om kinders teen seksuele molestering te beskerm, ignoreer. Derhalwe is 'n verkennende studie onderneem om vas te stel hoe maatskaplike werkers in die Moses Kotane Munisipale Distrik dienste lewer aan hierdie kinders. Dit is essensieel dat professionele persone oor die nodige kennis, vaardighede en regte houding sal beskik wanneer gevalle van seksuele molestering van kinders hanteer word. Met die studie is die faktore wat aanleiding gee tot seksuele molestering, sowel as die omstandighede wat kinders blootstel aan die risiko van seksuele molestering, ondersoek. Daar is vasgestel dat die motivering vir seksuele molestering van kinders in die Moses Kotane Munisipale Distrik gespruit het uit hulle gesinsomstandighede, kenmerke van die molesterende vader(s), sowel die gebrek aan bronne vir kinderbeskerming in die gemeenskap. Maatskaplike werkers behoort insig te hê in die faktore wat kinders 'n risiko van seksuele molestering kan maak. Hierdie faktore kan verband hou met die omstandighede van die kind, gemeenskapsfaktore, samelewingsfaktore, gesinsfaktore en die kenmerke van die professionele persone wat die gevalle van kinders wat seksueel molesteer is, hanteer. Kennis van die dinamika van seksuele molestering en die risiko faktore van seksuele molestering van kinders, sal maatskaplike werkers in staat stelom te assesseer of kinders gemolesteer is en om risiko-assesserings, sowel as behoeftebepalings van die slagoffers en hulle gesinne te doen. Sodanige inligting sal die maatskaplike werker help om 'n veiligheidsplan van aksie vir kinderslagoffers op te stel. Dit is derhalwe noodsaaklik dat maatskaplike werkers die aard van hulle gevallebestuur styl deur middel waarvan dienste aan seksueel gemolesteerde kinders gelewer word, sal kan identifiseer. Direkte dienslewering, wat deur die meeste maatskaplike werkers in die ondersoek groep verkies is en indirekte dienslewering is die twee soorte gevalle bestuurstyle wat maatskaplike werkers kan gebruik. Die keuse tussen die twee sal afhang van of maatskaplike werkers in 'n generiese of gespesialiseerde opset praktiseer. Alhoewel maatskaplike werkers oor die kundigheid en vaardigheid mag beskik om gevalle van seksuele molestering effektief te hanteer, mag hulle intervensies beïnvloed word deur verskeie struikelblokke wat kan veroorsaak dat oneffektiewe diens aan die slagoffers en oortreders van seksuele molestering van kinders gelewer kan word. Struikelblokke wat deur die respondente ervaar IS, is byvoorbeeld onproduktiewe werksomstandighede, gemeenskapsverhore van oortreders van seksuele molestering van kinders en onresponsiewe besture van organisasies. Ander struikelblokke kan die weerstand van kliënte, gebrek aan supervisie, gebrek aan opleiding in die hantering van seksuele molestering van kinders, sowel as die veeleisende aard van die hantering van kinders wat seksuele gemolesteer is, insluit. Tydens die proses van gevallebestuur behoort die maatskaplike werker deurlopend te skakel en saam te werk met 'n multi-professionele span, bestaande uit die polisie (KBE), mediese personeel, die staatsaanklaer, 'n sielkundige, sowel as die gesinslede van die gemolesteerde kind. Alhoewel die span van organisasie tot organisasie kan verskil, behoort die maatskaplike werker, polisie en die mediese personeel beskikbaar te wees vir alle spanvergaderings. Nie een van hierdie professionele persone is veronderstel om slagoffers alleen te assesseer nie, want die assessering behoort toe fokus op die sosiale, mediese, sielkundige, regs, fisiese en materiële behoeftes van seksueel gemolesteerde kinders. Dit is verder noodsaaklik dat maatskaplike werkers bewus sal wees van hoe hulle houdings, oortuigings, emosies, persepsies en gevoelens die effektiwiteit van hulle dienslewering aan hierdie kinders kan beïnvloed. Professionele persone behoort derhalwe oor die vaardigheid te beskik om met die nodige empatie en professionaliteit te reageer teenoor slagoffers. Met behulp van toepaslike professionele vaardighede kan die maatskaplike werker tydens intervensie 'n kindervriendelike omgewing tydens skep Dit sal die maatskaplike werker in staat stelom empaties te luister en gevoelens wat tydens onderhoude na vore kom te hanteer. Die toepassing van kognitiewe vaardighede sal die professionele persoon ontvanklik maak vir subtiele emosies en gevoelens van die kliënt en instaat stelom die vlak van hulle kognitiewe funksionering te assesseer. Die toepassing van teorie in die praktyk tydens intervensie is noodsaaklike omdat besluite en beoordelings tydens intervensie professioneel moet wees. Die maatskaplike werker benodig dus kennis van relevante perspektiewe, teorieë en modelle van maatskaplike werk wat vir die doel benut kan word. Die studie bied sodanige raamwerk aan wat as riglyne vir maatskaplike werkers kan dien en gebruik kan word om gevalle van seksuele molestering van kinders te bestuur.

Sexual abuse of children occurs at a very high rate and most of the victims are young children who have never been taught about the possibility of being abused. Victims of abuse are not equipped with appropriate knowledge and vocabulary to enable them to explain properly when they experience abuse. Acquisition of a vocabulary and understanding of the concepts of sexuality would assist children in recognizing, resisting and reporting sexual abuse. The young age at which abuse occurs makes the study at primary school level important and relevant. There is little literature on how child sexual abuse can be identified, addressed and handled by schools or what unique role the school should play in the management of child sexual abuse cases. Educators are in a position to identify sexually abused children because of their close and ongoing contact with school-going children. Therefore, young children place a great deal of trust in their teachers and look to them for protection when they feel unsafe. Teachers are trained to observe changes in the appearance and progress of individual children. Therefore, they can also assist in uncovering and reacting appropriately to disclosures of abuse. The study was conducted in poor, disadvantaged, rural primary schools in a part of the North West Province. There is a limited access to social work services in rural areas and therefore, educators are considered to be appropriate people to educate children about sexual abuse issues because children spend most of their time at school. There is a relationship between educators, parents and children which creates a proper channel of communicating information about sexual abuse of children. That is, educators are in a position not only to educate but also to reinforce what children have learnt at home. Educators' role have been limited in the identification and dealing with sexual abuse cases and therefore, there is a need to empower them with appropriate knowledge and skills to enable them to handle sexual abuse cases at school level successfully. / Psychology / M. A. (Psychology)

This study reflects a critical analysis of the procedures followed in child rape cases in Mpumalanga Province and in the process to enhance investigative capabilities with sound detective development. Empirical research was conducted with a literature review, docket analysis and interviews as methods to obtain information where the following important aspects were addressed: an overview of the field of forensic investigation, the shortcomings with regard to child rape investigations and correct procedures for conducting child rape investigations formulated. The study found that generally rape cases were not properly investigated, correct procedures were not followed (biological/physical evidence was not readily identified nor correctly handled) and applicable directives pertaining to child rape investigations not complied with. Investigators had a narrow understanding of the concept forensic investigation. In child rape investigations it would be of more evidential value and reliable to collect physical evidence such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids and saliva as the child’s testimony at court might not be reliable, particularly when subjected to cross examination. Rape is both a contact crime as well as a psychologically motivated crime and both aspects of the trauma needs attention during the investigation process. Crimes against women and children are also a national concern, thus making child rape a priority crime for the South African Police Service. For any successful prosecution it is necessary that policy and correct procedures are not compromised but rather strictly adhered to. The Locard Principle in relation to physical evidence such as body fluids at the crime scene needs to be focussed on during the investigation process. The research suggests that the current standing operating procedures be amended to include the critical aspects of child rape investigation such as processing of the crime scene, the search for biological evidence as well as the packaging and preservation of biological evidence. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

The South African Justice System is a broader system that brings law and order to society. This law and order also includes the constitutional rights of the sexually abused children. A special court dealing with cases of children who are sexually abused is functioning throughout the country. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework for social workers working with children in these special courts. The problem identified is that in these courts no framework exists for social workers focusing on the guidance of the child through the processes of the Justice System. This includes the therapeutic guidance by means of brief or directive therapy. The research methodology for this study focused on developmental research by using the Intervention research model of Rothman and Thomas (1994). The phases implemented in the study were Problem analysis and project planning, information gathering and synthesis and design. Qualitative data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews and integrated in phase two of the research report. A proto-type guideline was developed and needs to be evaluated in future research. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

The South African Justice System is a broader system that brings law and order to society. This law and order also includes the constitutional rights of the sexually abused children. A special court dealing with cases of children who are sexually abused is functioning throughout the country. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework for social workers working with children in these special courts. The problem identified is that in these courts no framework exists for social workers focusing on the guidance of the child through the processes of the Justice System. This includes the therapeutic guidance by means of brief or directive therapy. The research methodology for this study focused on developmental research by using the Intervention research model of Rothman and Thomas (1994). The phases implemented in the study were Problem analysis and project planning, information gathering and synthesis and design. Qualitative data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews and integrated in phase two of the research report. A proto-type guideline was developed and needs to be evaluated in future research. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)