Challenges of Lack of Community Awareness and Its Impact on Child Sexual Assault in Tanzania: The Case of Arusha, Tanzania

Abstract

This study intended to examine the challenges associated with community awareness on children rights and the rate at which child sexual assault in Tanzania has been increasing. A cross section research design was deployed. The target population was children aged between 10 to 17 years old from both primary and secondary schools in three districts of Arusha region. The sample size was 299 respondents. The study applied a mixture of quantitative and qualitative approach in order to complement to one another and implication of some data in situations. In addition the researcher approached the study on social work perspective. The data was analyzed by using descriptive and correlation measurements and themes for qualitative information. The findings of the study revealed that, there is negative correlation between community awareness on children rights and increasing/decreasing rate of child sexual assault by (r=0114). Further, a negative correlation between community awareness on children rights and frequent reporting of incidences to authorizes by(r= -0.361). Furthermore, the majority of the community members do not respond to child sexual assault collectively, instead, response is on family/individual bases. The study concludes that, there is inadequate level of community awareness on children rights and effects of child sexual assault in the communities. The planned interventions to end Violence against Women and Children, lacks financial and structural commitments. The study further recommends a review of National Plan of Action to End - Violence against Women and Children (NPA-VAWC) to improve the structure and commit adequate resources for effective implementation.