Child sexual abuse is a type of violence against children that has received significant concern worldwide which lead to short-term and long-term impacts on children, also a worrisome burden to the family and society. The aim of this study was to assess mothers` perception for protection of their children from sexual abuse. Research design: Descriptive design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was conducted at Benha Maternal and Child Health center (B), Kafr-Shokr Maternal and Child Health center, Shiben-El-Kanater Maternal and Child Health center and Kalyub El-Balad Maternal and Child Health center. The sample: Simple random sample of the mothers who can read and write, mothers' children age was from 3-12 years and accepted to be involved in the study( n= 381). Tools: Two tools were used, I): A structured interviewing questionnaire which consists of four parts to assess child's characteristics, mothers' socio- demographic characteristics b): knowledge of mothers about protection of children from sexual abuse c): reported practice of mothers for protection from sexual abuse d): attitude of mothers regarding protection from child sexual abuse and II): Child Sexual Abuse Myths Scale to assess false beliefs and attitude of mother toward child sexual abuse. Results: 48 % of mothers aged30 to less than 40 years old and 91.1% of them were married while 56.7% of children aged 3-6 years 12 and 7.6% of children were previously exposed to sexual abuse while 58.8% of mothers had average total knowledge level regarding protection of children from sexual abuse,60.1% of them had unsatisfactory total reported practices score regarding protection of children from sexual abuse and 66.9% of them had positive total attitude regarding protection of their children from sexual abuse. Conclusion: There were positive statistically significant correlations between mothers' total knowledge, total reported practices and total attitude regarding protection of their children from sexual abuse. Recommendations: Health education program for mothers regarding child sexual abuse to increase their knowledge and practices to protect their children from sexual abuse. |
