Publication year: 2011
Source: Child Abuse & Neglect, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 25 February 2011
Charles, Mtibo , Neil, Kennedy , Eric, Umar
Objective: A commonly cited, but unproven reason given for the rise in reported cases of child sexual abuse in Sub-Saharan Africa is the “HIV cleansing myth”—the belief that an HIV infected individual can be cured by having sex with a child virgin. The purpose of this study was to explore in Malawi the reasons given by convicted sex offenders for child sexual abuse and to determine if a desire to cure HIV infection motivated their offence. Methods: Offenders convicted of sexual crimes against victims under the age of 18 were interviewed in confidence in Malawi’s two largest prisons. During the interview the circumstances…