Factors associated with perceptions of child sexual abuse and lack of parental knowledge: A community-based cross-sectional study from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Child sexual abuse (CSA) has serious consequences that can affect the physical, social and mental health of a child. In the last two decades, concern about CSA has increased around the world including Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate factors associated with parental perceptions and knowledge of CSA. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTINGS: Primary health care clinic. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Simple random sampling was used to select participants. The main tool for data collection was a self-administered questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Factors associated with knowledge and perceptions of CSA. SAMPLE SIZE: 400. RESULTS: Most respondents (69%) had good knowledge of the signs of sexual abuse in children. For perception scores, statistically significant variables were age (P=.004), educational level (P=.005), income (P