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

Abstract

BACKGROUNDChild 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.OBJECTIVEEvaluate factors associated with parental perceptions and knowledge of CSA.DESIGNCross-sectional survey.SETTINGSPrimary health care clinic.SUBJECTS AND METHODSSimple random sampling was used to select participants. The main tool for data collection was a self-administered questionnaire.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESFactors associated with knowledge and perceptions of CSA.SAMPLE SIZE400.RESULTSMost 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<.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<.005), number of male children (P=.003) and number of female children (P<.003). Logistic regression showed that the older age group was significantly associated with a good perception score (P<.046).CONCLUSIONSRisk 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.LIMITATIONSSingle-center study and short study period.

Child abuse and neglect in a rapidly developing country: Parents' perspectives

“…The majority of our participants have heard about child abuse, consistent with the study in Saudi Arabia where the majority of Saudi parents had adequate knowledge and perception of child abuse,[ 11 ] and also with published studies in Jordan. [ 15 16 ] About half of our parents had actually witnessed child abuse in their society.…”

“…This is considered less than other studies where the majority of the respondents agreed that child sexual abuse is common in their community. [ 11 30 31 ]…”

“…Education should be considered for parents and the community to augment the knowledge and perception of CSA. [ 11 ]…”

“…[ 4 ] Children in the Arab Peninsula are exposed to all methods of CAN. [ 9 ] In spite of this, the literature has shown that CAN research remains scant with few scattered studies in Saudi Arabia,[ 10 11 12 13 ] Turkey,[ 3 ] Egypt,[ 14 ] and Jordan. [ 15 16 ] Other studies in the region have evaluated the perception of possible CAN among a variety of populations such as medical students,[ 17 ] pediatric physicians,[ 18 ] and preschool teachers (rather than parents).…”

Perception and Attitude about Child Sexual Abuse among Vietnamese School-Age Children

“…There have been several studies focusing on the perception and attitude toward child sexual abuse. Rural communities in Tanzania had accepting attitudes toward sexual violence [35] and parental responses showed that they had adequate knowledge regarding child sexual abuse [36,37]. However, most of the research has been aimed at investigating the perception and attitudes of men and women aged 18 years old and above [35,38,39], parents with children under 18 [40], or representatives of the socio-legal system (police investigators, magistrates, legal officers, and social officers) [41].…”