Picture-Based Program for Raising Awareness of Preschool Children Regarding Self-Protection from Sexual Harassment

Abstract

Background: Sexual harassment is a significant real public problem that can seriously affect any child regardless of gender and occurs at all socioeconomic levels. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of picture-based program on awareness of preschool children regarding self-protection from sexual harassment. Subjects & Methods: Design: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted in four governmental nursery schools at Zagazig city. Subjects: A sample of 92 preschoolers randomly selected from east and west educational administrations. Tool of data collection: A structured interview questionnaire consists of two parts; socio demographic characteristics of children, and awareness of preschool children regarding self-protection from sexual harassment. Results: The study results revealed that there was a statistically significant differences in children's total mean scores of awareness regarding selfprotection from sexual harassment pre-post program. Before implementation of the program, total mean score of awareness was 5.502.94 compared to 10.832.42 at the post-program phase. The multivariate analysis identified that preschool children's gender and living with both parents were the statistically significant independent positive predictor of their awareness score. Conversely, child's age, residence, birth order and social class were negative predictors. Conclusion: The program's implementation was shown to be successful in raising preschool children's awareness regarding self-protection from sexual harassment. Recommendation: Implementing the developed program on a larger scale in the study settings and in similar ones to confirm its beneficial effects in addition to further studies for developing more specialised childrencantered interventions to empower children with self-protection skills in order to protect Egyptian children from the threat of sexual harassment.