Measuring parents’ awareness, identification, and communication practices about acquaintance abuse against children in Pakistan

Abstract

Background

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a growing healthcare issue worldwide. However, the acquittance rape is one of the underrepresented phenomena due to certain social and cultural concerns. Consequently, the role of parents is of greater significance to ensure the safety of their children outside and insider of their homes.

Aims

This research investigated the parents’ awareness, identification, and communication practices about acquaintance rapes against Pakistani children.

Methods

Data was gathered from 314 respondents having one or more children below sixteen years of age and further analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).

Findings

Results showed that a majority of parents (70 %) were aware of child sexual abuse (CSA), especially acquaintance rape, as a prevalent phenomenon. However, they stayed neutral (50 %) about the possibility of female acquaintances as the possible cause of CSA and male children as victims of sexual abuse. They further reported physical and psychological signs to help identify acquaintance rape among children, with consensus ranging from 50 % to 60 %. Further, they showed different communication approaches, including telling children about CSA (50 %), their private body parts (around 45 %), abstaining from accepting gifts (50 %) and cautioning against going anywhere, even with someone they know (50 %), implying actively educating children about CSA as an effective strategy.

Conclusions

Effective communication between parents and children about sexual abuse is critical for deterrence. Continued efforts to challenge stereotypes, promote inclusive attitudes, and encourage comprehensive prevention approaches are important to creating safer environments for children in Pakistani society.