n Journal of Educational Studies - Child sexual abuse : a study of primary school learners' experiences in Malamulele North-East Circuit

Abstract

The purpose of this current study was to investigate child sexual abuse among learners at primary school. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect data from 29 learners from grade four to seven, who had been predisposed to sexual abuse experiences. The major findings of the study were that: both male and female learners were predisposed to sexual abuse; female students were more vulnerable to sexual abuse as compared to their male counterparts; the majority of the perpetrators were people known to the victims of sexual abuse; abused children developed poor interpersonal relations; sexually abused children developed attention deficit disorder and scholastic performance deteriorated. The study recommended that every school should have a comprehensive guidance and counselling program to assist learners at risk.