Volume 22, Issue 7 (October 2024)
Nursing and Midwifery Journal 2024, 22(7): 577-591 |
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Mansouri F, jamshidimanesh M. THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION TRAINING FOR MOTHERS ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND PERSONAL SAFETY SKILLS OF GIRLS AGED 7 TO 10 REGARDING SEXUAL ABUSE: A CLINICAL TRIAL STUDY. Nursing and Midwifery Journal 2024; 22 (7) :577-591
URL: http://unmf.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-5237-en.html
URL: http://unmf.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-5237-en.html
1- Master of Science in Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,jamshidimanesh@yahoo.com
2- Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract: (489 Views)
Background & Aim: Considering the importance of children's health and the prevention of sexual abuse, especially in girls, providing necessary education on reproductive health is a significant priority. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of sexual abuse prevention education for mothers on the knowledge and personal safety skills of girls aged 7 to 10 years.
Materials & Methods: This was a semi-experimental parallel study involving 72 pairs of mothers and daughters in two groups: intervention (36 participants) and control (36 participants), conducted in 2022. Participants were selected from a health center affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences that met the research criteria. Mothers with eligible daughters were randomly assigned to the two aforementioned groups. The intervention consisted of six one-hour sessions, held twice a week for three weeks for the intervention group. The control group also received training in three sessions once a week. In the fourth and eighth weeks after the intervention, the knowledge, attitudes, and personal safety skills of the girls were measured using the “Personal Safety Questionnaire” and “the What If Situations Test,” considering its four domains: (WIST Say), (WIST Do), (WIST Report), and (WIST Tell). Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, ANCOVA, variance analysis, and repeated measures.
Results: The knowledge of girls in the intervention group showed a significant difference after four weeks (p < 0.001) and eight weeks after the intervention (p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in identifying appropriate touch requests in the intervention group compared to the control group after four weeks (p < 0.017) and eight weeks post-intervention (p < 0.001). Differences in knowledge and attitudes among girls in the intervention group regarding identifying inappropriate touch requests were present at eight weeks (p < 0.021) but not significant at four weeks. The overall mean score in personal safety skills for recognizing inappropriate touch requests, as well as its four domains—including saying no to an inappropriate person (WIST Say); skills in acting to move away or shout in dangerous situations (WIST Do); skills for reporting inappropriate requests (WIST Report); and informing a trusted family member or acquaintance about inappropriate requests (WIST Tell)—showed significant increases at both follow-up times between the two groups (p < 0.001 for both times).
Conclusion: Education on preventing sexual abuse for mothers was effective in increasing knowledge, safety skills, and skills for identifying appropriate and inappropriate touches among girls aged 7 to 10 years. Since this study did not show differences in identifying inappropriate touch requests within a short period of four weeks, it is recommended that the content of this educational intervention be reviewed according to the level of knowledge and personal safety skills of girls in early elementary school grades, with careful consideration and extended duration for interventions in this area.
Materials & Methods: This was a semi-experimental parallel study involving 72 pairs of mothers and daughters in two groups: intervention (36 participants) and control (36 participants), conducted in 2022. Participants were selected from a health center affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences that met the research criteria. Mothers with eligible daughters were randomly assigned to the two aforementioned groups. The intervention consisted of six one-hour sessions, held twice a week for three weeks for the intervention group. The control group also received training in three sessions once a week. In the fourth and eighth weeks after the intervention, the knowledge, attitudes, and personal safety skills of the girls were measured using the “Personal Safety Questionnaire” and “the What If Situations Test,” considering its four domains: (WIST Say), (WIST Do), (WIST Report), and (WIST Tell). Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, ANCOVA, variance analysis, and repeated measures.
Results: The knowledge of girls in the intervention group showed a significant difference after four weeks (p < 0.001) and eight weeks after the intervention (p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in identifying appropriate touch requests in the intervention group compared to the control group after four weeks (p < 0.017) and eight weeks post-intervention (p < 0.001). Differences in knowledge and attitudes among girls in the intervention group regarding identifying inappropriate touch requests were present at eight weeks (p < 0.021) but not significant at four weeks. The overall mean score in personal safety skills for recognizing inappropriate touch requests, as well as its four domains—including saying no to an inappropriate person (WIST Say); skills in acting to move away or shout in dangerous situations (WIST Do); skills for reporting inappropriate requests (WIST Report); and informing a trusted family member or acquaintance about inappropriate requests (WIST Tell)—showed significant increases at both follow-up times between the two groups (p < 0.001 for both times).
Conclusion: Education on preventing sexual abuse for mothers was effective in increasing knowledge, safety skills, and skills for identifying appropriate and inappropriate touches among girls aged 7 to 10 years. Since this study did not show differences in identifying inappropriate touch requests within a short period of four weeks, it is recommended that the content of this educational intervention be reviewed according to the level of knowledge and personal safety skills of girls in early elementary school grades, with careful consideration and extended duration for interventions in this area.
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