The Nature of Counselling Offered to Sexually Abused Children in Selected Victim Support Units in Lusaka District,Zambia

The problem for this study emerged from the fact that little was known on the
nature of counselling offered to sexually abused children in Victim Support Units.
The study therefore, focused on four objectives namely: to investigate the nature of
counselling services offered to sexually abused children, explore the level of
training in counselling of VSU officers, determine the benefits of counselling to
sexually abused children and, to investigate the challenges faced in the provision of
counselling. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. A case study
design was employed. Data was collected using: interviews, focused group
discussion, questionnaire and non- participant observations. The sample comprised
of 100 participants: 8 were VSU supervisors, 30 VSU counselors who were
purposively selected, 31 sexually abused children and 31 parents/care givers who
were selected and traced using purposive as well as snow ball sampling.
The findings of this study elucidated that, in spite of VSU being given the mandate
to provide counselling to sexually abused children, majority of sexually abused
children did not receive counselling. The level of professional training in
counselling of VSU officers was found to be inadequate, majority (24) of VSU
counsellors had only certificates of attendance which were awarded to them after
attending workshops. Furthermore, the study revealed that all categories of
respondents were facing various challenges which included unsuitable and
inadequate rooms for counselling, children being counselled in the presence of
other people, fear of the police by children and lack of trust in the police by some
parents/care givers.
The study recommended that, the Zambia Police through VSU should implement
the following: child counselling training to be provided to all VSU officers,
increased access to counselling facilities and psycho-social services for children,
strengthening of community sensitization programmes on CSA and enhanced
partnership with key stake holders in CSA to increase accessibility of various
services.