Impact of an educational program in developing saudi mothers' knowledge, and preventive practices of children sexual abuse (CSA)

Abstract

Background: Each child around the world has the right to live in peace. Child sexual abuse is a serious public health problem globally.

Aim: to investigate the effectiveness of an educational program targeting children sexual abuse in developing Saudi mothers‟ knowledge and preventive practices of children sexual abuse.

Methods: A Quasi-experimental, "one group pre-posttest" design was used with a convenient sample of 38 mothers who have children in "81 elementary schools" affiliated to the ministry of education, Jeddah, KSA. Results: 89 % of the participants were aged between 20 - 40 years. 57.9% had 4 -6 children, and are secondary level (55.3%). A highly statistically significant difference between pre/post assessment knowledge as P= 0.000 with the difference in their attitudes but is not significant While, a significant correlation was found between the total score of pre/post knowledge assessment and the mothers‟ work state as P= .000 and .037. However, there was a significant difference in post knowledge and attitudes total score (P=.006) with age and number of children in the family P≤ 0.05 while, a negative significant difference was found in pre-knowledge „total score (P = -.001).

Conclusion and recommendation: The results concluded that mothers‟ knowledge and attitude were inadequate enough to protect their children from CSA in pre-assessment with a significant difference in post-assessment. Therefore, it is recommended that conducting more CSA prevention programs for parents and children is an urgent necessity. In addition, replication of the current study with longitudinal design that might help in identifying the change of attitudes.