TY - JOUR PY - 2014// TI - Sexual abuse in Malawi: patterns of disclosure JO - Journal of child sexual abuse A1 - Mason, Carole A1 - Kennedy, Neil SP - 278 EP - 289 VL - 23 IS - 3 N2 - Potential Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission makes prompt disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA) in Africa critical. The pattern of disclosure of 133 children presenting to the largest hospital in Malawi were analyzed. Eighty percent presented early enough for effective use of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. Seventy-five percent of children made a disclosure of CSA; 29% spontaneously and 47% after prompting. Disclosures were most commonly made to a parent, and age did not affect the pattern of disclosure. The number of children reporting CSA is increasing, possibly because of increasing awareness, availability of services, and fear of HIV. Although prompt disclosure rates were relatively high, facilitating easier disclosure of CSA by a free telephone help-line and better training of teachers may be helpful.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 1053-8712 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2014.888119 ID - ref1 ER -