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Childhood experience of sexual abuse in Singapore
Author
Teh, Chiew Guek
Supervisor
Hawkins, Russell (Russell Martin Francis)
Abstract
The present study is the first prevalence study of child sexual abuse in Singapore. A convenience sample of 325 post-graduate students training to become teachers in Singapore completed questionnaires which included items on definitions of child sexual abuse, recall of sexual abuse experience before the age of 16, perceptions about the sexual abuse incidents, opinions about a law on mandatory reporting in Singapore and personal demographics.
The overall prevalence rate for contact and non-contact child sexual abuse was 17.5% (n = 57). Eighteen percent of the female respondents and 17% of the male respondents indicated that they have had childhood sexual experiences. The prevalence rate for contact child sexual abuse was 9.6% (n = 22) for female respondents and 14.3% (n = 13) for male respondents. Interestingly, male respondents in this study reported a higher prevalence rate of contact child sexual abuse than female respondents.
Most of the victims were less than 13 years old when they were sexually abused. The majority of their abusers were males and the average age of the abusers as estimated by the victims was 26.5 years old and the majority of them (61.7%) were friends, relatives or people known to the victims. The female victims in this study were two and a half time more likely than males to be sexually abused by strangers while the male victims were one and a half time more likely than females to be abused by family and friends.
These findings are important because they show that a significant percentage of an adult population in Singapore was sexually abused in their childhood. It also confirms the fact that child sexual abuse is under reported in Singapore as only 57.1% of the victims reported their sexual victimization to others.
This study also found that behaviours that were seen as sexual abuse to a female child were similarly regarded as sexual abuse to a male child. In general, more than 80% of the respondents favoured some form of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse. However, respondents' opinions were split as to whether to have compulsory reporting for all residents of Singapore or for some people. The majority of the teacher-trainee respondents in this study strongly supported doctors, nurses, teachers, principals, childcare providers and social workers as mandatory reporters of child sexual abuse. Respondents' prior childhood sexual abuse experience, race and socio-economic background were not found to have an effect on respondents' support for a law on mandatory reporting though some respondents with prior childhood sexual abuse experience felt that reporting would not make the victim feel better but in fact the victims' situation would be made worse as he might be stigmatized by family or friends. Limitations and suggestions for further study are also discussed in the last section of this study.
The overall prevalence rate for contact and non-contact child sexual abuse was 17.5% (n = 57). Eighteen percent of the female respondents and 17% of the male respondents indicated that they have had childhood sexual experiences. The prevalence rate for contact child sexual abuse was 9.6% (n = 22) for female respondents and 14.3% (n = 13) for male respondents. Interestingly, male respondents in this study reported a higher prevalence rate of contact child sexual abuse than female respondents.
Most of the victims were less than 13 years old when they were sexually abused. The majority of their abusers were males and the average age of the abusers as estimated by the victims was 26.5 years old and the majority of them (61.7%) were friends, relatives or people known to the victims. The female victims in this study were two and a half time more likely than males to be sexually abused by strangers while the male victims were one and a half time more likely than females to be abused by family and friends.
These findings are important because they show that a significant percentage of an adult population in Singapore was sexually abused in their childhood. It also confirms the fact that child sexual abuse is under reported in Singapore as only 57.1% of the victims reported their sexual victimization to others.
This study also found that behaviours that were seen as sexual abuse to a female child were similarly regarded as sexual abuse to a male child. In general, more than 80% of the respondents favoured some form of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse. However, respondents' opinions were split as to whether to have compulsory reporting for all residents of Singapore or for some people. The majority of the teacher-trainee respondents in this study strongly supported doctors, nurses, teachers, principals, childcare providers and social workers as mandatory reporters of child sexual abuse. Respondents' prior childhood sexual abuse experience, race and socio-economic background were not found to have an effect on respondents' support for a law on mandatory reporting though some respondents with prior childhood sexual abuse experience felt that reporting would not make the victim feel better but in fact the victims' situation would be made worse as he might be stigmatized by family or friends. Limitations and suggestions for further study are also discussed in the last section of this study.
Date Issued
2003
Call Number
HV6570.4.S55 Teh
Date Submitted
2003