Cross Sectional Study to Assess the Awareness of School Children Regarding Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Foundation for Evidence

Sexual abuse of children is a significant public health problem and a violation of fundamental human rights including the right to life, right to protection from all forms of violence and the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health. Violation of human rights has many health consequences in terms of physical, psychological, and social for individual, family and community. India has the world's largest number of CSA cases. Every second child is being exposed to one or other form of sexual abuse and every fifth child faces the worse forms of it. A cross sectional study was conducted to assess the Awareness of school children regarding child sexual abuse.

1. To assess the level of awareness regarding child sexual abuse among school children. 2. To associate the level of awareness of school children with selected socio demographic variables.

A descriptive survey design was used to conduct the study.. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect the data from 88 school children. Pre tested, validated self-administered tool was used to collect the data.

Majority of the school children had average level of awareness regarding child sexual abuse (73%) Age and education of father and mother had association with level of awareness.

School children being a changing agent in the society has to be enhanced with awareness programme to fight against child sexual abuse. Nursing as essential stakeholders in promoting health of school children has more responsibility in increasing the awareness of school children knowledge on child sexual abuse to empower social vaccines as tool for promoting school children health.