"Let Sleeping Dogs Lie!". A Qualitative Analysis of Challenges for Professionals Dealing With Child Sexual Abuse in Institutions

Theoretical Background: There is a high prevalence of sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence worldwide. Professionals in institutions are often important first-contact persons and therefore have a significant role in the support when dealing with cases of sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence. But professionals often do not have enough knowledge nor capacities to deal adequately with (suspected) cases. Objective: The study aimed to identify what professionals need to adequately deal with cases of sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence and to protect those affected in the long term. Method: From January 2022 to March 2022, quantitative and qualitative data on dealing with sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence in institutions were digitally surveyed from medical-therapeutic and educational professionals in Germany. Data were analyzed using descriptive and content analysis methods. Results: The majority of the 164 respondents had already been confronted with sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence in their daily working routine. Individual protective measures often exist in institutions or are in the planning stage. However, more knowledge and competencies about how to deal with cases of sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence are needed, and the taboo of sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence must be counteracted. Institutions and especially their managers must learn to deal with sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence in a sensitized and open manner. Discussion and Conclusion: The present study shows that professionals require knowledge and capacities about how to deal with sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence in their institutions in order to react adequately. All institutions that work with children and adolescents should establish measures to protect against sexualized violence in childhood and adolescence.