Exploring Societal Norms on Child Sexual Abuse in Albania: A Pilot Study

Child sexual abuse is a complex public health problem with devastating outcomes for the child herself and the society at large. Decades of research attest to the high prevalence of these harmful acts toward children and their impact for overall individual and societal well-being. In Albania, a country with a relatively high young population, very little empirical research has been devoted to this issue, focusing mainly on the prevalence and incidence of the phenomenon. Furthermore, there is a paucity of data on societal and cultural norms contributing to the existence of child sexual abuse; whereas an in-depth understanding of these factors is necessary for any meaningful child protection interventions to take place. The current study attempts to offer helpful insights on societal norms surrounding child sexual abuse in Albania. It is a qualitative study, conducted in the region of Lushnja, involving discussions from focus groups with adult participants that are key figures in child protection; namely, parents, teachers and professionals working in the child protection area. Findings indicate that whereas child sexual abuse is perceived as being present in Albanian society, it remains hidden under a veil of secrecy due to the sensitive and taboo nature of the phenomenon. A thorough discussion of societal norms that contribute to the hidden nature of the phenomenon is provided along with an acknowledgment that there are protective factors within many Albanian families and society that should be strengthened and further developed in order to protect children. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n6p309