Knowledge retention and behavioral intentions following a child sexual abuse prevention program: One-year follow up

Abstract

Child sexual abuse (CA) is a major public health problem of increased prevalence worldwide the prevention of which is largely focused on the implementation of school-based prevention programs that aim to increase children's knowledge and personal safety skills. However, the actual behavioral change of participants or the long-term outcomes of such programs have not always been evaluated. In Greece the CSA prevention program Safe Touches was launched in several elementary schools in Athens during the last year leading to significant knowledge gains. The present research was a one-year follow-up of a sample of 161 Greek students currently attending second, third, and fourth grades who participated in the initial intervention in order to assess their retention of knowledge, as measured by the Children's Knowledge of Abuse Questionnaire-Revised, and their use of appropriate self- protection skills to prevent CSA using the Greek version of the "What If" Situations Test. Results showed that second-graders' knowledge increased, third-graders remained stable, while fourth-graders' deteriorated. Altogether children performed well in the behavioral intentions measure, while higher knowledge retention predicted participants' safer behavioral responses. Overall, the results support that the specific CA prevention intervention was effective in training Greek participants in CSA knowledge and skills, with gains being maintained at this one-year follow-up. Limitations of the present study and suggestions for future research are discussed.