Sexual Abuse Among Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Adolescence constitutes a vulnerable age group where the actual prevalence of sexual abuse may remain largely unknown due to lack of knowledge, delay in and lack of reporting of such incidences. 
 Objectives: To determine the knowledge and history of sexual abuse in adolescents and the associated factors. 
 Methods: A self-administered pretested questionnaire was used to collect data from children aged 10 to 19 years at an adolescent summer camp. 
 Results: Two hundred and seventy-six adolescents participated in this research out of which 41.3% had correct knowledge of sexual abuse, and 12.0% claimed they had been sexually abused. Among the 33 respondents with a history of sexual abuse, 39.4% (13/33) had correct knowledge of sexual abuse. Gender had a significant association with a history of sexual abuse (p = 0.008). Layered by age group, gender had a significant association with being sexually abused in mid-adolescence (p = 0.029) but not in late adolescence (p = 0.445). Age category had no significant association with being sexually abused.
 Conclusion: The knowledge of sexual abuse was inadequate among adolescents. A high proportion claimed to have been previously sexually abused and interestingly, had insufficient knowledge of sexual abuse There is a need to educate adolescents on sexual abuse to empower them to protect themselves and get help as appropriate.

Gambaran Tingkat Pengetahuan Remaja Putri tentang Kekerasan Seksual di SMPN 1 Ruteng Cancar Kabupaten Manggarai

“…Remaja perlu dididik tentang perilaku seksual yang sesuai dengan usia mereka, hal ini akan menjadi dasar untuk membatasi ancaman pelecehan seksual dan gejala sisa yang menyertainya pada kelompok usia yang rentan ini (Odigwe et al, 2021) (Odigwe et al, 2021).…”

“…Sebagian besar mengaku pernah mengalami pelecehan seksual dan mereka tidak memiliki pengetahuan yang memadai tentang hal tersebut. Ada kebutuhan untuk mendidik remaja tentang pelecehan seksual untuk memberdayakan mereka agar dapat melindungi diri mereka sendiri dan mendapatkan bantuan yang sesuai (Odigwe et al, 2021).…”

Development and implementation of a worksite-based intervention to improve mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills in sharing information with their adolescent daughters on preventing sexual violence: lessons learned in a developing setting, Sri Lanka

“…The literature shows that lack of awareness and poor life skills are the root causes of the higher incidence of sexual abuse among adolescents [ 6 ]. Despite more than three decades of school sexual health education, Sri Lankan adolescents lack adequate sexual health knowledge and receive conflicting messages [ 7 ].…”