Uncovering the Roots of Child Sexual Abuse in Pakistan: A Statistical Analysis of Cultural and Societal Determinants

Abstract

In Pakistan, the issue of child sexual abuse is further exacerbated by the lack of cultural and societal influence. The objective of this investigation was to identify the gap between the cultural and societal determinants of child sexual abuse. The researchers used a cross-sectional methodology, and data were obtained from 264 respondents aged between 28 and 60 years. The chi-square test and Kendall's Tc tests were employed at the bivariate level to investigate the relationship between the variable cultural norms and the societal norms that are responsible for child sexual abuse. Further, logistic regression analysis was used to predict the occurrence of child sexual abuse. The logistic regression model indicated that the probability of possessing cultural factors and norms related to CSA increased nearly twofold because of a change in parental marital status, such as divorce. This study identified specific cultural and societal determinants that increase the risk of child sexual abuse. Additionally, this study found a positive impact of marital status on the cultural norms associated with traditional society and recommends culturally profound deliberation and policies to increase stakeholder awareness and safeguard vulnerable children.