2. 6 Barrier to identify and address the needs of
traumatized children
According to Karangwa (2003), there are some factors that hinder
the identification of traumatized children such as: Cultural barriers, social
barriers, and religious barriers.
2. 6. 1 Cultural barriers
Different communities have different beliefs, different
values and norms that can act as barriers for any intervention when helping the
victimized child; these are usually attached to taboos, stigma, attitudes and
cultural practices. Some of the behaviors and practices that may act as
barriers include:
· In cultures that expect girls to behave subordinately may
influence girls who are victim to pretend to be a normal life
· Parents of some children may deny that any abuse has
occurred
· In cultures where premarital sex is taboo, may lead to
both the parents and children keeping silence on sexual abuse
· Some abuse to children may be taken to be normal
practice
In some culture, children (especially girls) are not allowed to
complain to adults becaseu it is taken as being disrespectful
2. 6. 2 Social barrier
From the previous unit it was realized that some of the cause
of child abuse and trauma, are a result of economic hardships, family
break-ups, instability and violence within the family or general society. These
situations may lead to the following barriers:
- Because of the frequency of the occurrence of abuse and
violence, the children may view useless to report and seek help
- They may fear for their life and that of their family, since
many older stronger people do it
- Some of the children may fear to talk of such problem such as
sex or crime in return for money, not only because of the stigma attached to it
but also for fear of loosing the income
for the family, being beaten or arrested
- Children from violent families may try to protect their abusive
parents by hiding their feeling because if they expose them they may face
exclusion or loss of family support
- Some children who have been victims of social violence (war),
may not like to speak about their problems because they believe that the
society has betrayed them
- Some teachers trying to reach the abused child, the parents
on any other community members may be taken as someone who does not value the
culture and may receive repulsive response to his interest
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