A critical review of child abuse and its management in Africa

Abstract

IntroductionChild abuse in Africa is a major threat to the achievement of the sustainable development goals on the continent and has become increasingly topical with a dramatic increase in recognition and an appreciation of the long term harmful effects on the affected population. The aim of this review was to outline current management of child abuse (especially sexual abuse) and highlight current preventive practice that could be beneficial in a resource-limited environment.MethodsA search of Medline and reference lists of the literature on child abuse in African countries and relevant world literature was conducted in December 2016. The review was written narratively, rather than systematically as a general overview was desired, instead of a focused view of individual aspects of child abuse.RecommendationsOpportunities for early identification of child abuse, as well as research into preventative strategies should be prioritised. Establishing strong institutions and guidance to tackle abuse when it occurs is both beneficial to the survivors and the continent at large.

Attitudes on Children Victims of Sexual Abuse and the Relevance of Poverty Reduction Policies in Developing Countries: A Tanzanian Perspective

“…As it is the case at the global level, the magnitude of sexual abuse in Tanzania is high, in fact, Tanzania, Morocco and South Africa are the leading countries as far as sexual abuse in Africa is concerned (Badoe, 2017). Findings from the 2011 survey and those from recent studies suggest that such rates are not declining.…”

Anal/anogenital lesion revealing child sexual abuse: A case series of an unusual situation in a black African setting

“…According to WHO, child sexual abuse (CSA) is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he/she does not fully understand and/or is unable to give informed consent [ 1 , 2 ]. Globally, the prevalence of genito-anal injuries after sexual abuse is estimated between 9% and 87% depending on the ages of the survivors in the sample, method of examination and the type of injuries included [ [3] , [4] , [5] ].…”

“…In both developing and developed countries, recognizing CSA is difficult, due to many hurdles among which the silence of the victims [ 1 , 11 , 12 ]. CSA remains a big taboo in black Africa.…”

Sexually transmitted infections among girls aged 1 to 15 years, presumed victims of sexual abuse in Thies / Senegal: about 98 cases

“…Cette association décrite en Europe, en Amérique, en Arabie [2,3,4,5,6] a fait l'objet de nombreuses études menées en Afrique Australe [7,8]. Ces dernières années, elle était documentée en Afrique Centrale et de l'Ouest [9,10,11]. Au Sénégal, la plupart des études faites l'ont été dans la capitale et s'appesantissaient plus sur les abus sexuels [12].…”