Child Sexual Abuse Studies in Arab Societies: A Systematic Review and Directions for Future Research

Abstract

Although child sexual abuse (CSA) is acknowledged as a worldwide social phenomenon, less is known about CSA within Arab societies. The current systematic literature review was designed to highlight the empirical knowledge on CSA in Arab societies. Guided by PRISMA principles, key databases were searched, with no time limit, for studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Fifty-seven studies were identified. The majority focused on the prevalence of CSA in various Arab societies around the world, with a wide range of rates reported. It is important to stress two main barriers addressed by the included studies. The first relates to the issue of taboo and the forbidden discussion of sexual content. The second is ethical, in which the researchers expressed their fear of creating emotional distress for their participants. A small group of studies examined parents’ perceptions of CSA and the need for parents’ involvement in the protection of their children. Another small group of studies focused on professionals’ perceptions and experiences in contending with CSA, as well as their distress, conflict, and urgent need for support and guidance. The conclusions from the systematic literature review emphasized the enormous challenge of conducting studies on CSA in Arab societies and the urgent need to advance this research while also including children and adult survivors, whose perceptions and experiences are currently understudied. Moreover, the discussion stresses the need to adopt an intersectionality paradigm in future studies to advance the improvement of CSA policy and practice.

“I need to be the person who will know to do the right thing”: Perspectives of Arab and Jewish teachers confronting child sexual abuse.

“…However, culture does not solely explain CSA interventions. Therefore, it is also important to note that a society’s political, geographical, and organizational characteristics play a role (Attrash-Najjar & Katz, 2023). Overall, in the Arab community in Israel, there are fewer child protection services and professionals, and less educational funding, facilities, resources, and extracurricular activities than in the Jewish society (Abu-Saad, 2003).…”

“We Try to Fix Things Quietly, and We Do Not Take Revenge”: Christian Arab Teachers’ Experiences Coping with Child Sexual Abuse Among Their Pupils in Israel

“…When considering CSA interventions, it is crucial to note the community’s political, geographical, and organizational characteristics ( Attrash-Najjar & Katz, 2022 ). In contrast with the Muslim Arab community in Israel, the Christian Arab community is characterized by various demographic similarities to the Jewish community, including high rates of education, average number of children per family, and age of marriage ( David, 2014 ).…”