Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) continues to be on the rise despite several interventions and
legal frameworks to curb it. Using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory, the
study sought to understand risk and protective factors for sexual abuse in adolescents
at the individual, familial, community and societal levels as well, as ways to help prevent
it. The study utilized an exploratory qualitative approach focusing on the participants'
subjective experiences. Twenty participants (10 social workers and 10 parents) were
recruited from the Teddy Bear Foundation through non-probability purposive sampling.
Data was collected through semi-structured face to face interviews. Interviews were
audio-recorded, manually transcribed and analysed by the researcher.
The study findings indicated that at the individual level, factors such as exposure to
social media, substance use, lack of knowledge about sex emerged as critical risks,
while protective factors like knowledge about sex, non-exposure to social media and
non-alcohol use offered counterbalance. At the familial level, the findings revealed that
the parent-child relationship plays a pivotal role in either exacerbating or mitigating risk.
Poor communication, parental substance abuse and lack of impartation of sex
knowledge makes adolescents vulnerable to sexual abuse whereas strong, open
relationships with parents act as protective buffers. At the community and societal levels,
toxic cultural norms that objectify females contribute significantly to the latter’s
vulnerability to child sexual abuse. Patriarchy, poverty, and lack of strict laws and
consequences exacerbate this situation. On the other hand, awareness campaigns,
community connectedness, and stricter laws were viewed as measures to reduce CSA.
Finally, the study’s exploration of prevention strategies highlighted the role of education,
awareness, and community engagement in combating CSA.