Impact of parental sex education on child sexual abuse among adolescents

Niger J Paed 2015; 42 (4): 325 – 328

ORIGINAL

Manyike PC

Impact of parental sex education on

Chinawa JM

Aniwada E

child sexual abuse among

Udechukwu NP

adolescents

Eke CB

Chinawa TA

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njp.v42i4.8

Accepted: 10th August 2015

Abstract : Background: Parental

(72.1%) were not informed that

sex education of children is an

family members or family friends

Chinawa JM

(

)

often overlooked issue in pediat-

can abuse children and 73.8%

Eke CB

rics, especially in our society

were not told to inform adults if it

Department of Paediatrics,

where talking about issues con-

happens to them. A lower propor-

Chinawa TA, Aniwada E

cerning sex is regarded as a taboo.

tion (37.9%) of those educated by

Department Of Community Medicine,

Objectives: The objective of this

parents at home was abused. Those

University of Nigeria Teaching

study is to determine the impact

educated by parents were 1.23

Hospital,

of sex education on child sexual

times less likely to be abused than

PMB 01129,

abuse among adolescents attend-

those not educated. There was sig-

Enugu, Enugu State,

ing secondary schools in south

nificant difference in sex abuse

Nigeria.

east Nigeria.

between

males

and

females

Email: josephat.chinawa@unn.edu.ng

Methods: This is a cross-sectional

(p=0.014) while there were no

Manyike PC ¹ , Udechukwu NP¹ ,

study that was carried out among

significant difference for age

College of Medicine, Department of

children

three

secondary

(p=0.157)

and

social

class

pediatrics, Federal Teaching Hospital

schools in Enugu and Ebonyi

(p=0.233).

Abakiliki, Nigeria.

states of Nigeria. Five hundred

Conclusion: Children educated by

and six adolescents who met in-

parents on sexual abuse were less

clusion criteria were consecu-

likely to be sexually abused than

tively recruited into our prospec-

those not educated. There is no

tive study between June and Octo-

link between socioeconomic class

ber, 2014.

and child sexual abuse among ado-

Results: Eighty (80%) of respon-

lescents.

dents were educated by parents on

sex abuse. Of those educated ma-

Key words: Parental sex educa-

jority was by mother (46.2%) and

tion; adolescents; Nigeria

both

parents

(45.2%).

Most

Introduction

likely to report recent sexual activity than females

whose parents did not complete high school . Also, ado-

Adolescence is a stage of development described as a

lescents (male and female) whose parents were college

phase of life beginning in biology and ending in so-

graduates were less likely to have had sexual intercourse

ciety . This period is a dramatic challenge, one requiring

than their counterparts whose parents did not complete

high school . Training parents to teach proper names for

adjustment to changes in the self, in the family, and in

the peer group. In contemporary society, adolescents

genitals and other reproductive organs to their children

experience institutional changes as well . Child sexual

can help to increase youths' empowerment to resist child

sexual abuse or disclose it to trusted adults . It can also

abuse among adolescents is a developmental stressor

that can have profound, long-term physiologic and psy-

reduce shame, stigma, and self-blame for youth who

have experienced sexual abuse . Educating children can

chosocial effects . It has been associated with a variety

of health-compromising behavior and health problems,

increase family communication about child sexual abuse

often considered attempts to cope with the trauma en-

and strengthen communication between groups of par-

ents in a community .

6,7

gendered by the abuse .

Notably, there exists a relationship between the educa-

This study is aimed at determining the impact of sex

tional level of parents, sex education and child sexual

education on child sexual abuse among adolescents.

abuse among adolescents . It is noted that female adoles-

Evaluation of impact of sex education on child sexual

cents whose parents were college graduates were less

abuse among adolescents is under reported in pediatrics

326

practice and its importance cannot be downplayed.

Data Analysis

Much has not been done on this subject in Nigeria in

particular and Africa in general. This study will, there-

Data was analyzed using the SPSS statistical package,

fore, help to determine if there is a difference in existing

version 17. The chi-square statistical test and T-test were

studies from the present study

used for categorical and continuous variables, respec-

tively. Data presentation was in tables.

Methods

Study design

Results

This is a cross-sectional study that assesses the impact

Table 1: shows that majority of respondents, 364

of sex education on child sexual abuse among adoles-

(> 70%), were aged 15-19; 236 (about 47%),were of

cents attending secondary schools in Enugu and Ebonyi

lower socio economic class, while there was equal sex

states, south east Nigeria.

distribution. Table 2 shows that about 80% of respon-

dents were educated by parents on sex abuse. Of those

Study area

educated majority was by mother (46.2%) and both par-

ents (45.2%). Most (72.1%) were not informed that fam-

The study was carried out among children in three

ily members or family friends can abuse children and

secondary schools in Enugu and Ebonyi states of

73.8% were not told to inform adults if it happens to

Nigeria.

them.

Study population

Table 1: socio-demographics of respondents

Variables

Frequency (n=506)

Percent(100)

Five hundred and six adolescents who met inclusion

criteria were consecutively recruited into our prospec-

Age (Years)

tive study between June and October, 2014.

10-14

132

26.09

15-19

364

71.94

Three schools were selected in Enugu and Abakaliki

20-24

1.98

metropolis of Enugu and Ebonyi states, through simple

Sex

random sampling method. They were all mixed schools.

Female

267

52.77

Male

239

47.23

Study Procedure

Social class

Upper class

170

33.40

A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to

Middle class

100

19.76

collect information from the adolescents who attend the

Lower class

236

46.64

selected secondary schools. We used the child sexual

abuse questionnaire. Adolescents who signed consent

Table 2: Information by parents on sexual abuse

and who understood the questionnaire thoroughly were

included in this study while adolescents without consent

Variables

Frequency

Percent

n=506

were excluded.

Ever educated about sex abuse by your

Each family was assigned a socioeconomic class using a

parents

recommended method, modified by Oyedeji .

Yes

409

80.8

19.2

Ethics Statement

Which parent

n=409

Father only

8.6

This was obtained from the ministry of education and

Mother only

189

46.2

head of the school authorities and government owned

Both

185

45.2

institution where this work was carried out.

Ever explained by your parents that

n=409

children may be sexually abused by

family friends or family members

Consent

Yes

19.1

295

72.1

Informed consent was sought from school teachers, par-

I don’t remember

8.8

ents/caregivers of potential subjects, including older

Ever informed by your parents to let an

n=409

students in secondary schools, before enrolling them

adult know if it happened to you

into the study.

Yes

19.6

302

73.8

Case Selection

I don’t remember

6.6

Table 3 showed that lower proportion (37.9%) of those

Subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were con-

educated by parents at home was abused. Those

secutively enrolled into the study.

educated by parents were 1.23 times less likely to be

abused than those not educated. When adolescents were

asked to narrate their feelings after being sexually

327

abused, 44.2% felt threatened or in danger, 42.2% un-

Discussion

able to say no out of embarrassment or shame and

26.6% had associated physical abuse. Table 4

We noted from this study that children educated by par-

Table 4: Shows the association between socio-

ents on sexual abuse were less likely to be sexually

demographic variables, sex abuse experience and regres-

abused than those not educated.

sion on socio-demographic variable and sex abuse ex-

Recent research has suggested that disapproving paren-

perience. There was significant difference in sex abuse

tal attitudes and sex education toward early sexual activ-

between males and females (p=0.014) while there were

ity were significantly correlated with delayed sexual

no significant difference for age (p=0.157) and social

exposure and abuse. It is noted that while disapproving

class (p=0.233).It also shows that those aged 15-19 were

parents communicate their disapproval of risky sexual

1.33 times and those aged 20-24 years 1.04 times less

behavior, a permissive parent acts “in a non -punitive,

acceptant, and affirmative manner towards it .

8,9

likely to be abused. Females were 1.53 times more

likely to be abused than males. Those from middle-

It is reported that very few children receive adequate

lower class were 1.09 and 1.14 times more likely to be

preparation for a safe and satisfying adult sexual life.

abused than higher class

Open discussion of sexual matters with parents is usu-

ally absent at the very time when it is most needed. It is

Table 3: Association and regression between parent sex

regarded a taboo to discuss issues about sex in our soci-

education on sex abuse experience

ety. This, in turn, is compounded by the pervasive, con-

Abused

Not

Test

p value

fusing and conflicting (and predominantly negative)

abused

Statistics

messages received by children about sexuality and gen-

der . Mothers will tell their female children that if any

Ever educated about sex abuse by your parents

man touches their breasts they will become pregnant.

These children, with unfettered access to the internet are

1.830

0.176

(45.4)

(54.6)

getting wiser, though, negatively, and, therefore, should

Yes

155

254

be guided.

(37.9)

(62.1)

95% C.I.

We observed from this study that mothers educated their

for OR

Variable

children on matters concerning sexual abuse more than

Sig.

Lower

Upper

the fathers. In one study, mothers are more likely to

Ever educated about sex abuse by your parents

have detailed discussions with their children about sex-

ual development and contraception. In Africa in general

Yes

0.813

0.377

0.514

1.287

and Nigeria in particular, sex education is seen as a ta-

boo and something too sacred to be discussed with chil-

Table 4: Feelings during sexual abuse

dren thus making the children vulnerable when faced

Variables

n=199

with issues that affects they sexuality . Sex education

Yes

should be carried out by experienced teachers, who

n(%)

themselves have exhibited high moral standards. The

Threatened or in danger

88(44.2)

111(55.8)

first teacher in this case should be the parent, especially

mothers . These days it is a well known fact that chil-

Unable to say no out of embarrass-

84(42.2)

115(57.7)

ment/shame/fear

dren find out more about sex on their own. This is be-

Forced to go along for other reasons

70(35.2)

129(64.8)

cause they are more responsive to outside instructors .

Neither forced nor threatened

51(25.6)

148(74.4)

Parents must create an enabling environment to make

Any physical abuse

53(26.6)

146(73.4)

the children learn effectively on this issue.

Tried to avoid the situation/s e.g re-

85(42.7)

114(57.3)

fusing to go along, running away

When we asked the adolescents to narrate their feelings

after being sexually abused despite receiving adequate

sex education; a good number of them felt threatened, in

Table 5: Regression on socio-demographic variable and sex

abuse experience

danger and are unable to say no out of embarrassment or

shame. It was reported that child sexual abuse makes the

95% C.I.forOR

adolescents feel betraying their parents, feel powerless-

Socio-demographic

ness, losses control, emotionally numb, ashamed and

guilty .

variable

Sig.

Lower

Upper

Age

10-14

It is pertinent to note that parents especially mothers

15-19

0.755

0.680

0.199

2.868

should empathize with their sexually abused children

20-24

0.962

0.954

0.263

3.521

and give them a listening ear.

Sex

We noted no correlation between social class, age and

Female

1.525

0.028

1.046

2.224

sexual abuse in adolescents. This is in tandem with a

Male

reportage on a cross sectional study of six countries

Social class

where no associations with demographic characteristics

Upper class

was noted . This is also supported by other studies done

1.092

0.684

0.714

1.671

in different areas with different methodologies

15,16

Middle class

Lower class

1.140

0.601

0.697

1.866

328

Conclusion

Authors’ contributions

Dr. JMC and PCM had primary responsibility for proto-

Children educated by parents on sexual abuse were less

col development, patient screening, enrolment, outcome

likely to be sexually abused than those not educated,

assessment, preliminary data analysis, and writing of the

though it is not statistically significant. There is no link

manuscript. Dr. PCM, JMC, and EA also supervised the

between socioeconomic class, age and child sexual

design and execution of the study, and performed the

abuse among adolescents

final data analyses.

Conflict of interests: None

Funding: None

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