Perception and Attitude about Child Sexual Abuse among Vietnamese School-Age Children

Ha Ngoc Do, Hoa Quynh Thi Nguyen, Linh Thuy Thi Nguyen, Hiep Duy Nguyen, Thanh Phuong Bui, Nguyet Thanh Phan, Hang Thu Thi Do, Giang Hai Ha, Hai Thanh Phan, Trang Huyen Thi Nguyen, Anh Toan Ngo, Kiet Tuan Huy Pham, Bach Xuan Tran, Carl A. Latkin, Cyrus S. H. Ho and Roger C. M. Ho
Additional contact information
Ha Ngoc Do: Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Hoa Quynh Thi Nguyen: Department of Research on Youth Culture and Lifestyle, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Linh Thuy Thi Nguyen: Department of Research on Children’s Issues, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Hiep Duy Nguyen: Department of Research on Children’s Issues, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Thanh Phuong Bui: Department of Research on Children’s Issues, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Nguyet Thanh Phan: Department of Research on Youth’s Organizations and Youth Campaign, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Hang Thu Thi Do: Department of Research on Youth and Legal Issues, Youth Research Institute, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Giang Hai Ha: Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
Hai Thanh Phan: Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
Trang Huyen Thi Nguyen: Center of Excellence in Pharmacoeconomics and Management, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Anh Toan Ngo: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Kiet Tuan Huy Pham: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Bach Xuan Tran: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Carl A. Latkin: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Cyrus S. H. Ho: Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore
Roger C. M. Ho: Center of Excellence in Behavioral Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-10

Abstract: Child sexual abuse has become a significant public health concern in Vietnam in recent years, and the likelihood of being abused could be prevented by increasing the awareness of sexual abuse and self-protection skills among children. However, little is known about the perception and attitude of schoolchildren toward this issue in Vietnam. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of school-age children toward child sexual abuse and the risk factors affecting their knowledge and attitude. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 800 Vietnamese students from grades four to nine. Most of the respondents had insufficient knowledge of sexual abuse in children; teachers and strangers would not be perpetrators (57.9% and 74%); and schools and home were safe places (55.8% and 58.8%). Almost all participants disagreed with touching and non-touching actions, even from acquaintances (94.5% to 99.5%). Being female, older age, not living with family or relatives, and living in an urban setting were found to be positively associated with the right perception and attitude toward child sexual abuse. A sexuality education program should be officially applied at schools for children with the support of their parents to narrow the knowledge gap between different geographical locations and genders.

Keywords: children; sexual abuse; perception; attitude; knowledge; Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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