Forensic social workers’ experiences regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims in South Africa

Several studies describe reasons why children are reluctant to disclose sexual abuse. However, there is an incompleteness in understanding how black male child victims do not easily disclose their sexual abuse experiences. This study aimed to describe the experiences of forensic social workers regar...

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Main Author: Rapholo, Selelo Frank
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2021
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19017/1/52060-170938-1-SM.pdf
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author Rapholo, Selelo Frank
author_facet Rapholo, Selelo Frank
author_sort Rapholo, Selelo Frank
collection UKM
description Several studies describe reasons why children are reluctant to disclose sexual abuse. However, there is an incompleteness in understanding how black male child victims do not easily disclose their sexual abuse experiences. This study aimed to describe the experiences of forensic social workers regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims. The ecosystems theory was used to zoom into systems that black male children in South Africa find themselves in which prevent them from disclosing their sexual abuse experiences. A qualitative approach with a descriptive design using a stratified random, purposive and convenient sampling techniques were employed to select fourteen forensic social workers who participated in this study. Semi-structured individual interviews with open ended questions were used to collect data which was analyzed thematically through the help of NVivo 12 Pro software. Findings revealed fear of the consequences to self and patriarchal values as having an influence for the non-disclosure of child sexual abuse amongst black male child victims during forensic assessments. Socio-cultural systems which black male child victims find themselves in were also found to have a very strong influence in their reluctance to disclose sexual abuse. It is therefore imperative that forensic social workers and other experts consider strategies useful to promote the disclosure of child sexual abuse which should focus on reducing fear of consequences of disclosing and rethinking cultural values.
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spelling ukm.eprints-190172022-07-22T08:39:30Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19017/ Forensic social workers’ experiences regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims in South Africa Rapholo, Selelo Frank Several studies describe reasons why children are reluctant to disclose sexual abuse. However, there is an incompleteness in understanding how black male child victims do not easily disclose their sexual abuse experiences. This study aimed to describe the experiences of forensic social workers regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims. The ecosystems theory was used to zoom into systems that black male children in South Africa find themselves in which prevent them from disclosing their sexual abuse experiences. A qualitative approach with a descriptive design using a stratified random, purposive and convenient sampling techniques were employed to select fourteen forensic social workers who participated in this study. Semi-structured individual interviews with open ended questions were used to collect data which was analyzed thematically through the help of NVivo 12 Pro software. Findings revealed fear of the consequences to self and patriarchal values as having an influence for the non-disclosure of child sexual abuse amongst black male child victims during forensic assessments. Socio-cultural systems which black male child victims find themselves in were also found to have a very strong influence in their reluctance to disclose sexual abuse. It is therefore imperative that forensic social workers and other experts consider strategies useful to promote the disclosure of child sexual abuse which should focus on reducing fear of consequences of disclosing and rethinking cultural values. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2021 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19017/1/52060-170938-1-SM.pdf Rapholo, Selelo Frank (2021) Forensic social workers’ experiences regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims in South Africa. e-BANGI: Jurnal Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, 18 (9). pp. 69-81. ISSN 1823-884x https://ejournal.ukm.my/ebangi/issue/view/1434
spellingShingle Rapholo, Selelo Frank
Forensic social workers’ experiences regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims in South Africa
title Forensic social workers’ experiences regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims in South Africa
title_full Forensic social workers’ experiences regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims in South Africa
title_fullStr Forensic social workers’ experiences regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Forensic social workers’ experiences regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims in South Africa
title_short Forensic social workers’ experiences regarding the non-disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims in South Africa
title_sort forensic social workers experiences regarding the non disclosure of sexual abuse during forensic assessments with black male child victims in south africa
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19017/1/52060-170938-1-SM.pdf
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