Enduring Trauma: The Lived Experiences of Female Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in Ghana

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a major global public health, human rights, and social problem with adverse consequences on the health and well-being of children. This study examined the experiences of Ghanaian female survivors of CSA regarding the perpetrators of CSA, the reporting of CSA incidents, and their emotions/feelings after they were sexually abused. The study used secondary qualitative data from a larger study by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection in 2018, which involved fifteen female survivors of CSA. The transcripts of the fifteen participants were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that perpetrators of CSA were persons closer to survivors, such as boyfriends, neighbors, siblings' friends, relatives, and class teachers. Additionally, while most participants reported their CSA incidents, others were unable to disclose those acts. Some survivors of CSA felt distressed when they saw perpetrators, while others felt anger, fear, and mistrust of men after their abuse. This study advocates for the development of programs that empower families to understand, prevent, and respond to cases of CSA. Also, there is a need to prioritize mental health support for CSA survivors.