A Descriptive Study to Assess the Knowledge regarding Prevention of Child Abuse among School Going Children’s Mothers in selected Community Area, Coimbatore

Rajeswari. V

Associate Professor, Sree Abirami College of Nursing, Coimbatore - 641024.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: rajeswarimsc2013@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Aim of The Study: 1. To determine mother’s level of knowledge about child abuse. 2. To identify the relationship between the socio demographic variable and the knowledge score 3. To create a health education lesson about child abuse and how to stop it. Materials and Methods: Pender's Health Promotion Model served as the foundation for the conceptual framework used in this investigation (1996). This study's research methodology was non-experimental in nature. Data was gathered using a semi-structured interview schedule, and sixty women who lived in Kanampalayam, Coimbatore, were chosen for the study using a suitable sampling approach. Results: The study's findings showed that, of the mothers surveyed, 8(or 13.33%) had adequate knowledge about child abuse, 12(20%) had moderate knowledge, and 30(or 50%) had inadequate knowledge. The respondents' mean score percentage on child abuse is 32.2%, with a standard deviation of 12.31%, and their total knowledge score is 38.08. A variety of topics related to child abuse were evaluated, including what constitutes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as well as neglect. When mothers were asked to rate their general knowledge on a range of topics, the results showed that 34.88% of them acknowledged what child abuse meant, 31.73% understood physical abuse, 31.25% understood emotional abuse, 32.95% understood sexual abuse, and 31.8% understood child neglect. Conclusion: The conclusion was made in accordance with the study's findings. 50% of mothers understood inadequately about child abuse. Mothers' prior knowledge, occupation, and observation of child abuse all significantly influenced their awareness of child abuse.

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Child Sexual Abuse, Knowledge, School children’s Mothers.

INTRODUCTION:

“The only reason why child abuse is alive today is because we as adults fail our children, when we fail to listen to them. Listen to a child today.” - Heather Mcdane

Child sexual abuse is described as any act which includes involving minors in sexual activities that they are not aware of, cannot consent to, or that go against social norms¹.

Rape, molestation, incest, prostitution, child pornography, exhibitionism, and paedophilia are a few examples of the various forms of child sexual abuse².

The prevalence of 42% of school-age people in Chennai report having experienced child sexual abuse. All children were vulnerable to maltreatment, no matter how well-off they were. Of the boys and girls, 39% and 48%, respectively, said they had been abused. 15% of boys and girls were victims of severe maltreatment.³

India has the greatest number of children globally, with 375 million, or almost 40% of the total population. 69% of children report having been abused physically, emotionally, or sexually. In New Delhi, the percentage of abuse is around 83%. 89% of crimes are committed by family members. Males are more likely than girls (65%) to be abused (>72%). Approximately 70% of incidents went unreported and ignored, even when parents were involved⁴.

Sexual assaults against children in India have escalated to epidemic proportions, according to a 2013 research by the Asian Centre for Human Rights titled Child Sexual Assault in Juvenile Justice Homes. According to the research, over 48,000 incidences of child rape were reported between 2001 and 2011, with India experiencing a 336% rise in cases from 2001 (2,113 cases) to 2011 (7,112 cases).⁵

When child abuse happens outside of the home, it usually happens to a carer or someone the child knows—not a complete stranger. The fundamental reason for the high frequency of child abuse, neglect, and labour in India is the absence of mandatory basic education for children⁶.

Numerous societal factors, including early schooling, bullying, poverty, dysfunctional families, child labour, and hunger in developing nations, have an impact on children.7. Maltreatment of a kid on a physical, sexual, or emotional level is known as child abuse. Any action carried out against a kid's will and with force is considered child abuse. The four categories of child abuse that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect.⁸

A child's essential requirements, such as their physical, emotional, social, educational, and safety needs, as well as their needs for clothing, food, shelter, and proper health care, are not being met. This is known as child neglect, which is a type of child abuse.⁹ Child abuse is a severe and widespread issue in the country. According to studies, one in eight boys and one in four girls may experience sexual abuse before they turn eighteen.¹⁰

The prevalence of crime against minors increased to 676 incidents in 2016, an almost 2080% increase in just six years, from the Himalayan state's 31 recorded cases in 2010. An additional noteworthy increase of 38% has been observed between 2015 and 2018. State police reported 635 of these instances in 2015 compared to 489 in 2014.¹¹

METHODOLOGY:

This study's descriptive research design helps in evaluating, investigating, describing, and documenting the situation's various aspects. The goal of the current study is to characterize mothers' knowledge of child abuse.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE:

Age, religion, education, family type, occupation, family income, number of children, place of residence, prior experience, witness, and women who damage their children are among the dependent variables in the current study.

DEPENDENT VARIABLE:

Knowledge of mothers regarding child abuse.

STUDY SETTING:

The most important aspect of the study is choosing the location. The study that is being presented was carried out in Kannampalayam, Sulur, a village in the Coimbatore district. This community has an average population of 5,000 people. The researcher concluded that it was possible to carry out the study in this environment. The sample is chosen based on the following factors:

· Sample availability

· Study feasibility and

· Cost and time efficiency.

TARGET POPULATION:

Mothers of children younger than 12 years old are part of the study's target population.

SAMPLE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE:

The investigator used a convenient sampling approach for this study, and the sample was made up of 60 mothers living in Kannampalayam, Coimbatore, who were the mothers of children under the age of 12.

DEVELOPMENT AND DESCRIPTION OF THE TOOL:

Section A:

It analyses the sociodemographic factors pertaining to mothers. 11 items cover age, religion, family type, education, employment, number of children, residence, prior knowledge, witness and mother’s who hurt their childer’s futures.

Section B:

Information concerning abuse of children. There are 38 items in the knowledge section that ask about knowledge of child abuse. It covers the definition, kinds, approaches, clinical presentations, handling, and avoidance of child abuse.

DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES:

The appropriate higher authority gave permission to conduct the study in all four areas prior to the data gathering processes. All mothers were given a self-introduction and an explanation of the interview's goal. Each home was visited by the investigator in person for the interview. Every interview lasted for over 30 to 40 minutes. Every day, the investigator went to six or seven homes. The investigator needed a total of fifteen days to do the interview. Every mother that participated in the interview was cooperative.

Table No. 1: Knowledge score on child abuse among mothers

S. No	ASPECTS	MAX.SCORE	RANGE	RESPONDENTS
				MEAN	MAXIMUM SCORE	SD
1.	Overall knowledge	95%	27-100	38	32.2 %	95

Table No. 2: Aspect wise mean knowledge score on child abuse among mothers.

S. No	Aspects	Maximam Score	Range score	Respondent’s knowledge
S. No	Aspects	Maximam Score	Range score	Mean	Mean %	SD
1.	Meaning	9	1-8	3.14	34.88	1.22
2.	Physical abuse	34	7-33	10.79	31.73	3.66
3.	Emotional abuse	24	5-20	7.6	31.25	2.85
4	Sexual abuse	23	5-22	7.58	32.95	4.84
5	Neglect	30	6-23	9.54	31.8	3.42
	Combined	120	27-100	38.08	32.2	12.31

DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION:

The data collected through semi structured interview schedule were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Fig.No. 1: Aspect wise mean knowledge score on child abuse among mother

A variety of topics related to child abuse were evaluated, including what constitutes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as well as neglect. With a mean score of 3.14 and a standard deviation of 1.22, the participants' knowledge on the concept of child abuse was 34.88 % on the mean score.

ANALYSIS OF THE KNOWLEDGE LEVEL OF MOTHERS HAVING CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE REGARDING CHILD ABUSE

Knowledge of mothers regarding child abuse was divided into three categories for easy understanding. The result of the study revealed that 1(1.25%) of mother had adequate knowledge level regarding child abuse, 3(3.75%) of them had moderate knowledge and 56(95%) of them had inadequate knowledge. The overall knowledge rated with the maximum possible score of 120. It was ranged between 27-100 with mean of 38.08 and SD percentage of 12.31%, the mean score percentage of overall knowledge was 32.2%.

CONCLUSION:

The conclusion drawn from the findings of the study. 95% subjects had inadequate knowledge regarding child abuse. Knowledge of mothers regarding child abuse was significant with occupation, previous knowledge and witness of child abuse.

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Received on 20.03.2024 Modified on 06.06.2024

A and V Pub Int. J. of Nursing and Medical Res. 2024; 3(3):106-108.

DOI: 10.52711/ijnmr.2024.23