Understanding parent and community perspectives of sexual victimization, perpetration, and protection of adolescent girls with developmental disabilities: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls with developmental disabilities face disproportionately high risks of sexual abuse, often compounded by underreporting, social silence, and limited access to justice. In Bangladesh, where cultural norms and caregiving structures, and socioeconomic inequalities shape vulnerability, the perspectives of parents and community members remain underexplored in understanding the dynamics of victimization, perpetration, and protection. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore how parents and community members in urban northwestern Bangladesh perceive the sexual abuse of adolescent girls with developmental disabilities, with particular attention to pathways of vulnerability, perpetration, and protective responses. METHODS: A qualitative design was employed using purposive sampling to conduct in-depth interviews with parents of victims and diverse community members in Rajshahi city. Semi-structured, open-ended questions were developed for each group. Data were analyzed thematically to synthesize patterns across narratives while preserving contextual depth. RESULTS: Participants described vulnerability as context-amplified rather than inherent arising from communication and comprehension limitations intersecting with caregiver workload, economic precarity, and stigma. Perpetration was commonly linked to relational proximity (relatives, neighbors, family acquaintances) and power asymmetries, with informal settlements and perceived impunity undermining accountability. Families reported thin and uneven reporting pathways, limited disability-sensitive responses, and social pressure that concentrates responsibility on mothers and discourages disclosure. Protective mechanisms emphasized vigilant caregiving, predictable routines, empathy from neighbors/teachers, and accessible, trustworthy legal and social support. Parents voiced high emotional burden and a desire for practical guidance, while community members highlighted system-level gaps that could be addressed through clearer safeguarding roles and low-friction referral options. CONCLUSION: This study provides parent and community perspectives on how sexual abuse risk is co-produced at micro (caregiving), meso (community), and macro (legal/social protection) levels in Bangladesh context. Culturally responsive, disability-inclusive safeguarding should pair near-child supports with credible and accessible reporting and justice mechanisms to reduce opportunities for abuse and improve timely response.