A Parent-focused Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program: Development, Acceptability, and Feasibility

Abstract

Objectives: Child sexual abuse (CSA) affects nearly 60,000 children in the U.S. annually. Although prevention efforts targeting adults in the community and school-aged children have been somewhat successful, there is a clear gap in the current prevention efforts: parents. Generalized parent-education (PE) programs have effectively reduced the rates of physical abuse and neglect; however, currently no PE program targets risk factors for CSA specifically. We sought to develop a brief module to be added onto existing PE programs thereby leveraging the skills and implementation infrastructure to ensure sustainability. Methods: In three phases, we developed the curriculum, refined content and presentation while simultaneously developing and psychometrically evaluating a measurement tool, and conducted an acceptability and feasibility pilot. These phases are described in detail such that intervention scientists wishing to develop a module to be added onto existing programs can follow our procedures.

“How many times did I not want to live a life because of him”: the complex connections between child sexual abuse, disclosure, and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors

“…provide support and treatment necessary to empower victims, help them deal with trauma, and reduce risk factors that can impact on further mental health issues). This supports recent prevention initiatives that focus on parents’ participation as a fundamental element to successfully increase the acquisition of skills and knowledge in children and to facilitate children’s ability to disclose CSA [ 64 ].…”

Knowledge and Awareness Level of Parents Regarding Preschool Children’s Privacy According to Demographic Characteristics

“…Total of 65.4% of the participants stated that they did not wait nearby their children while he/she is using toilet. However, Guastaferro et al (2019) stated that although parents agreed that 3-year-old children were often too young to use the toilet alone, the concept of privacy could be instilled in children at this age. Gunes (2017) explains that the areas such as the toilet, bathroom, and where clothes are changed are special areas and that another person should not enter.…”

Parent-Focused Sexual Abuse Prevention: Results From a Cluster Randomized Trial

“…Because the module builds upon the foundational skills of general parent training programs, SPSHK is delivered in one session added to the general parenting training program. An acceptability and feasibility pilot study confirmed the module could be delivered within a single session (*60 minutes) and the content and presentation of information were satisfactory to providers and parents (Guastaferro et al, 2019). In open-ended questions, providers reiterated their willingness to include the module referencing the lack of this information in the programs they currently deliver and the needs of the parents they serve.…”

“…A CSA-specific parent education module, Smart Parents-Safe and Healthy Kids (SPSHK), was developed to leverage the evidence-based content of parent training programs by adding three key CSA-prevention components; healthy child sexual development, parent-child communication about sex and sexual behaviors, and CSA-specific safety strategies such as vetting a babysitter and monitoring one-on-one time with adults (Guastaferro et al, 2019). Behaviorally based, the module presents developmentally comprehensive information to parents of children 0-13 and utilizes role-playing scenarios and activities to maximize parents' use of learned skills.…”