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Cited by 83Child Abuse and TraumaSexual Assault and Victimization StudiesAdolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

The relationship between parental presence and child sexual violence: Evidence from thirteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa

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Kidman, Rachel, Palermo, Tia·2016·Child Abuse & Neglect
DOI 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.10.018PMC PMC4713304
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Abstract

There are compelling reasons to believe that orphans - many millions due to the AIDS epidemic - are more likely to be sexually victimized during childhood. Few studies have empirically investigated sexual violence disparities, and those that do suffer from methodological limitations and limited geographic scope. We used nationally representative data on female adolescents (15-17 years) from 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We built multilevel logistic models to test for an association between the dependent variables (orphanhood and parental absence) and sexual violence, both within countries and pooled across all countries. Approximately 10% of adolescent girls reported past experiences of sexual violence; a third of those victimized were 14 years or younger at the time of their first forced encounter. Paternal orphaning (OR 1.36, p≤0.01), double orphaning (OR 1.47, p≤0.05), and paternal absence (OR 1.28; p≤0.05) were significantly associated with experiencing sexual violence in pooled analyses. Fewer findings reached significance within individual countries. Our findings suggest that the lack of a father in the home (due to death or absence) places girls at heightened risk for childhood sexual abuse; further research identifying pathways of vulnerability and resilience specific to this population is needed. Our findings also indicate that abuse often starts at an early age; thus promising programs should be adapted for younger age groups and rigorously tested.

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  • Paternally orphaned children are more likely than non-orphans to experience sexual violence, potentially linked to household economic vulnerability.

    “Paternally orphaned children are more likely than non-orphans to experience sexual violence, potentially linked to household economic vulnerability.8, 26”

    From Global minimum estimates of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and deaths of caregivers: a modelling study (2021) · cites this paper as [8]

    The Discussion (Main findings) reports a significantly higher likelihood of sexual violence for paternal orphans and suggests that economic risks associated with losing a father may play a role. However, the study examined female adolescents aged 15–17 in thirteen sub-Saharan African countries, not children generally; the proposed economic pathway was not established as a cause. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Children losing primary caregivers have higher risks of experiencing mental health problems; physical, emotional, and sexual violence; and family poverty.

    “Children losing primary caregivers have higher risks of experiencing mental health problems; physical, emotional, and sexual violence; and family poverty.8, 9, 10”

    From Global minimum estimates of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and deaths of caregivers: a modelling study (2021) · cites this paper as [8]

    The Results section reports higher sexual-violence risk among adolescent girls who had lost a father or both parents, but not among those who had lost only a mother. The Introduction says poverty is more prevalent among orphans and describes psychological consequences of parental loss. The paper does not establish the claimed higher risks of mental health problems or physical and emotional violence, and its sexual-violence finding does not apply to all children who lose a caregiver. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Kidman, R., & Palermo, T.
Affiliations
  • Stony Brook University (US)
  • United Nations Children's Fund (US)
Corresponding author
Kidman, Rachel
ORCID
Venue
Child Abuse & Neglect
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-01
Volume
51
Pages
172-180
ISSN
0145-2134 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.10.018
PMC
PMC4713304
OpenAlex
W2173292427
Cited by
83
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 2
FWCI
7.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Child Abuse & Neglect (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R03HD082475)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
Keywords
child sexual violence, parental presence, orphanhood, parental absence, adolescent girls, sexual abuse risk, AIDS orphans, sub-Saharan Africa
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child Abuse, Sexual, Female, Humans, Parents, Surveys and Questionnaires, Logistic Models, Africa South of the Sahara, Child, Orphaned

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