A Cross-Sectional Study on Public Awareness about Child Sexual Abuse in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND:Child sexual abuse is a very serious and dangerous problem. It has long-term consequences and may impact children and follow them into adulthood. Without exception, regardless of their cultures and religious beliefs, all communities are vulnerable to child sexual abuse (CSA).OBJECTIVE:Our aim in this study is to assess the level of public (caregivers) awareness of CSA in Makkah and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.METHODOLOGY:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Makkah and Jeddah. The target populations were Saudi parents, caregivers, and teachers who are in daily contact with children. The participants were selected randomly (n=417), and were requested to complete a questionnaire that was later analyzed using the IBM Corp. Released 2015. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.RESULTS:369 from 417 responders were females (88.5%), while 48 were males (11.5%). About 90.2% of the responders acknowledged the existence of the child sexual abuse problem. About 95.7% of the caregivers were aware of physical, social, and psychological consequences of child sexual abuse. In contrast, only 33.8% of the responders were aware of existence of social agencies and organizations that provide supportive services to the victims of child sexual abuse.CONCLUSION:In conclusion, the study found a high rate of awareness in the caregivers who recognize the problem of child sexual abuse (CSA) and are aware of its magnitude and impact on children's well-being. However, these results demonstrate the need for more education of the public about the mandatory laws regarding child sexual abuse.