Knowledge, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy of Children About Prevention of Sexual Violence Against Children

Abstract

Child sexual violence is a global problem and tends to increase from time to time. The lack of knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy in children about the concept of sexual violence is a contributing factor to sexual violence against children. However, data on children's knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding the prevention of sexual violence are still limited. This study aimed to describe children's knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy towards the prevention of sexual violence and the incidence of sexual violence in children. This research is quantitative with a cross-sectional study approach. The population of this study was children aged 12-17 years in Pontianak City, with a total sample of 396 people. Proportional random sampling was used in six sub-districts in Pontianak City. Data analysis used univariate analysis in the form of percentages. The study results found that 68.9% had poor knowledge of sexual violence against children and its prevention, 55.8% were unsupportive of sexual violence, 47.5% had low self-efficacy in preventing sexual violence, and 56.6% of children had experienced sexual violence. A comprehensive intervention strategy is needed for parents as the first environment known to children to prevent sexual violence against children.

Prevalence and Forms of Sexual Abuse among Female Hawkers in Sokoto State

“…A similar finding has been reported in other studies in Kano and Jigawa States. 1,5 The main reason for hawking in this study was that the girl needed money to prepare for marriage. In Northern Nigeria, the girl's family is responsible for furnishing the apartment where the young couple will live; in addition to numerous food items, most of these girls while preparing for marriage are also concerned with getting and saving enough money to tastefully furnish the husbands' to be's houses.…”

“…1,2 These findings were however different from a study in Ekiti where the majority of the hawkers had formal education. 5 The high level of informal education in these locations is not unexpected considering the dominance of Quranic education, high out-ofschool children, and low female enrolment in schools.…”

“…A study carried out among children aged [12][13][14][15][16][17] years on knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy of children about prevention of sexual violence against children in Indonesia found that 68.9% of the children had poor knowledge of sexual violence against children. 5 Another study conducted among children in Beijing, China on sexual abuse prevention knowledge and skills found that 44%, 70.5%, and 65.5% of the children knew that sexual abuse occurs when someone intentionally touches a child's private parts, someone asks a child to touch his or her private parts, or someone intentionally shows his private parts to a child respectively. 6 A study conducted on sexual abuse and risky sexual behaviours among young female hawkers in Burkina Faso showed that 50.4% of them had been sexually abused.7 Another study on the prevalence and pattern of child sexual abuse revealed a child sexual abuse prevalence of 29.8%.…”