Understanding the Needs of Individuals at Risk of Perpetrating Child Sexual Abuse: A Practitioner Perspective

Research estimates that as many as 1 in 20 children in the United Kingdom (UK) have been victims of child sexual abuse. The scale of this problem motivates prevention efforts; however, there is an apparent absence of preventative intervention for those individuals who are concerned about their sexual preference for children, including those who have not committed an offense. Due to the sensitive nature of child sexual abuse and stigma surrounding pedophilia, individuals who are concerned about their sexual interests in children are unlikely to willingly participate in research. By investigating the experiences of staff that are employed by an organization offering an anonymous helpline for people who experience sexual thoughts and behaviors toward children, this research aims to develop understanding of the needs of those individuals, in order to establish how child sexual abuse might be prevented. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five practitioners from a sexual abuse prevention organization, and thematic analysis revealed three main themes: (a) moving service users forward, (b) barriers to intervention, and (c) prevention: missing pieces. The first theme identifies ways in which practitioners may help service users to identify their problem, associated risk factors, and how they might begin to move forward. The second theme addresses certain factors that prevent service users from accessing or engaging with primary interventions. Finally, the third theme discusses the ways in which primary prevention could be built upon, by considering participants' experiences that are shaped by their work in the field of primary intervention, and their experience of service users. This is the first time the needs of those who may benefit from primary prevention in the UK have been explored in this way; therefore, each theme is discussed in relation to primary prevention of child sexual abuse.