AlRammah AAA, Alqahtani SM, Elzubair AG, Al-Saleh SS, Syed W, Khalid AA, Al-Shammari HH. Factors associated with perceptions of child sexual abuse and lack of parental knowledge: a community-based cross-sectional study from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Ann Saudi Med 2018;
38:391-398. [PMID:
30531172 PMCID:
PMC6302984 DOI:
10.5144/0256-4947.2018.391]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Child sexual abuse (CSA) has serious consequences that can affect the physical, social and mental health of a child. In the last two decades, concern about CSA has increased around the world including Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate factors associated with parental perceptions and knowledge of CSA.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional survey.
SETTINGS
Primary health care clinic.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Simple random sampling was used to select participants. The main tool for data collection was a self-administered questionnaire.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Factors associated with knowledge and perceptions of CSA.
SAMPLE SIZE
400.
RESULTS
Most respondents (69%) had good knowledge of the signs of sexual abuse in children. For perception scores, statistically significant variables were age (P=.004), educational level (P=.005), income (P less than .001), number of wives (P=.004), number of male children (P=.021), and number of female children (P=.027). For knowledge scores, statistically significant variables were income (P=.008), number of wives (P less than .005), number of male children (P=.003) and number of female chil.dren (P less than .003). Logistic regression showed that the older age group was significantly associated with a good perception score (P less than .046).
CONCLUSIONS
Risk factors for parental lack of knowledge and poor perception associated with CSA are poverty and low education. Protective factors included the older parent age, size of the family and families with more than one wife. Education should be designed for parents and the community to increase the knowledge and perception of CSA.
LIMITATIONS
Single-center study and short study period.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None.
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