Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention among Parents of Children with Hearing Loss: A Pilot Study in Beijing and Hebei Province, China

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention among parents of children with hearing loss. The study involved 127 pairs of parents with deaf and hard of hearing children from three special education schools in Beijing and Hebei province, China. The findings revealed that the parents lacked knowledge about CSA prevention, such as the character of perpetrators and child victims. Parents were supportive about potential CSA prevention education in schools. Most parents told children much about personal safety, but topics on CSA prevention were still insufficient. The study also found that education level was significantly associated with knowledge and attitude. Elder parents knew more and talked more about CSA prevention. Mothers and girls’ parents were more willing to communicate with children about CSA prevention. The conclusion of the study was that parents appeared to have gained a positive attitude, but poor knowledge and practice. Their knowledge and skills of effective communication should be strengthened to promote CSA prevention practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Child sexual abuse
• parents
• hearing loss
• knowledge
• attitude and practice
• China

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all the parents participating in this study and others who contributed to this study.

Disclosure of Interest

All the authors have no conflicts to report.

Ethical Standards and Informed Consent

The current study was approved by Peking University Institutional Review Board and have followed the requirements of Helsinki Declaration.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Suying Guo

Suying Guo, Bachelor of Medicine, is a Master candidate at Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center in Beijing, China.

Jingqi Chen

Jingqi Chen, PhD, is at the Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center in Beijing, China.

Buyi Yu

Buyi Yu, Master of Medicine, is CEO Assistant and Project Manager at Beijing Yesiin Consulting Corporation in Beijing, China.

Yingying Jiang

Yingying Jiang, Master of Public Health, was a Masters candidate at Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center in Beijing, China.

Yi Song

Yi Song, is Associate Professor and Assistant Director at Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center in Beijing, China.

Yichen Jin

Yichen Jin, Bachelor of Medicine, is a PhD candidate at Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center in Beijing, China.