The effect of an educational program on knowledge about sexual abuse prevention among child laborers: a...

Child laborers are a vulnerable group at heightened risk for sexual abuse. However, their specific needs are often overlooked in traditional educational programs, primarily due to socio-economic barriers and school non-attendance, which prevent these children from accessing the necessary resources and information to protect themselves from social risks, such as sexual abuse. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention designed to enhance knowledge about sexual abuse prevention among child laborers.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on child laborers at two support centers in Tehran, Iran. Participants were non-randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 30) or control (n = 30) group based on their respective support centers. The intervention group received a four-session educational program covering topics such as recognizing inappropriate behaviors, identifying potential abusers, and learning how to protect themselves and seek help. The control group received no intervention. Data were collected using a demographic form and a self-developed Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Knowledge Questionnaire. The questionnaire's content and face validity were confirmed and its internal consistency was supported by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89. Assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and three months later. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24, employing independent t-tests, chi-square, and the repeated measures ANOVA. A significance level of P < 0.05 was considered.

Prior to the intervention, there were no significant differences in knowledge between the intervention and control groups (P = 0.30). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of time (P < 0.001), indicating that knowledge scores changed significantly across the time points. A significant main effect of group was observed (P = 0.002), with the intervention group consistently showing higher knowledge scores. Additionally, the interaction effect between time and group was significant (P < 0.001), indicating that the knowledge change over time differed significantly between the two groups.

The educational program significantly enhanced knowledge about sexual abuse prevention among child laborers, with sustained improvements observed at the three-month follow-up. This intervention provides a promising model for empowering vulnerable children with the knowledge needed to protect themselves. Future research should explore the program's long-term outcomes, its impact on behavioral change, and assess its potential for integration into child protection policies and broader educational frameworks.

Not applicable.