Community Involvement and Protection of Girl Child against Sexual Abuse: A case of Selected Primary Schools in Mbarara City South

Abstract

The study was about Community Involvement and Protection of the Girl Child against Sexual Abuse: A Case Study of Selected Primary Schools in Mbarara City South. The study aims to identify different forms of girl child sexual abuse in Mbarara City South, explore different ways of community involvement in the protection of the girl child against sexual abuse, and establish the relationship between community involvement and protection of the girl child against sexual abuse in Mbarara City South. The study used cross-sectional research design. The study targets headteachers, PTA members, teachers, community leaders, and pupils, with a total of 180 respondents. The study findings examined the various forms of girl child sexual abuse in Mbarara City South, the study reveals alarming instances of physical abuse, overt exposure to sexual content in schools, verbal abuse, exploitation, grooming, and even cases of human trafficking. The gravity of these findings underscores the immediate need for targeted interventions, emphasizing the importance of early recognition, community vigilance, and comprehensive strategies to address both online and offline abuse. The findings highlight crucial strategies for community involvement in protecting girl children against sexual abuse. Education and awareness campaigns, financial and material support to schools, community watch programs, guidance and counseling for teachers, and evaluation and improvement initiatives emerge as key components of an effective community-based approach. These strategies collectively contribute to creating a supportive environment, fostering awareness, and encouraging active participation in initiatives aimed at preventing and addressing girl child sexual abuse. The study concludes that community involvement plays a crucial role in protecting the girl child against sexual abuse in Mbarara City South. The findings demonstrate a moderately strong positive correlation between community engagement and initiatives aimed at safeguarding girls, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness, education, and mobilization efforts. Recommendations include developing strategies to enhance community engagement by addressing identified gaps, such as targeted communication campaigns, community forums, and incentives to encourage active participation in initiatives related to girl child protection. Empowering community leaders through capacity-building programs is also recommended to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead and support community-wide efforts against girl child sexual abuse.