Effects of a Body Safety Training Program on Self-Prevention Skills against Sexual Abuse among Preschool-Aged Children: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Child sexual abuse is an important and serious issue that affects children both physically and mentally. Preschool-aged children lack the skills to protect themselves, making them at risk of being sexually abused. This quasi-experimental research aimed to investigate the effects of a Body Safety Training Program on self-prevention skills against sexual abuse among preschool-aged children. Participants were 58 preschoolers aged 5-6 years old studying in kindergarten level 3 of a kindergarten school in Bangkok, Thailand. The children were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 29) and a control group (n = 29). The control group received the regular school learning program. In contrast, the Body Safety Training Program was implemented in the experimental group for five days, 20-30 minutes per day, in addition to the regular school learning program. Data were collected using the Demographic Data Form and the What If Situation Test (WIST-III-R). Data analysis employed frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, the Mann–Whitney U Test, and the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. The findings revealed that after participating in the program, the mean rank of total skills and subscales of appropriate recognition, inappropriate recognition, say skill, do skill, tell skill, and reporting skill of the children in the experimental group were significantly higher than before receiving the program and significantly higher than that of the control group. The Body Safety Training Program effectively increases self-prevention skills in preschool-aged children. Nurses should provide advice, knowledge, and training about the sexual abuse prevention programs organized for teachers and parents. However, testing the program in multiple settings is needed before it can be widely used.