Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: Parents' Perceptions and Practices in Urban Nigeria

• NCJ Number: 238261
• Journal: Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 20 Issue: 6 Dated: November-December 2011 Pages: 695-707
• Author(s): Olusimbo K. Ige; Olufunmilayo I. Fawole
• Date Published: December 2011
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined parents' perceptions of child sexual abuse as well as prevention practices in southwest Nigeria.

Abstract

This study examined parents' perceptions of child sexual abuse as well as prevention practices in an urban community in southwest Nigeria. Questionnaires were collected from 387 parents and caregivers of children younger than 15 years of age. Results showed that many parents felt CSA was a common problem in the community, and most parents disagreed with common child sexual abuse myths. In addition, almost all parents (greater than 90 percent) reported communicating with their child(ren) about stranger danger. However, about 47 percent felt their children could not be abused, and over a quarter (27.1 percent) often left their children alone and unsupervised. There were no significant variations in the perceptions of child sexual abuse and communication practices. The implications of findings for child sexual abuse prevention are discussed. (Published Abstract)