Knowledge and attitudes regarding child abuse and child rights among Sri Lankan school children

Abstract

AIMS: To describe knowledge and attitudes regarding child abuse and child rights among school children in 3 districts in Sri Lanka. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted in Anuradapura, Monaragala and Kandy districts in 2011. Five schools were randomly selected from each district. Three classes of grades 9-11 were randomly selected and all students in selected classes were recruited into the study after obtaining informed consent. A self-administered questionnaire given under examination conditions was used to gather data. The questionnaire contained questions to assess knowledge/attitudes regarding child abuse and rights. Subjects were assigned a mark (range 0-5) on their answers to questions in different aspects of child abuse and higher marks signify better knowledge. RESULTS: The study population comprised 1091 adolescents (Anuradapura-30%, Moneragala-35%, Kandy-34%). Mean age was 14.2 (SD±1.23) years and 48% were males. The majority of boys (85%) and girls (78%) were unaware of the child rights convention. A higher percentage of girls (10.1%) than boys (5.2%) answered the question on child rights satisfactorily [p=0.003]. Corporal punishment in schools was recommended by 38%, whereas 42% suggested positive disciplinary methods. On other's request, 29% boys and 6% girls would do life-endangering tasks. Marks for the question regarding ability to handle/avoid sexual abuse were- 0 in 7%, 1-3 in 51% and 4-5 in 42%. Girls scored significantly higher than boys [p<0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge regarding child rights among Sri Lankan children was unsatisfactory. A high proportion acknowledged corporal punishment as a disciplinary method. Girls had a better knowledge regarding child rights and are better aware of how to handle situations of sexual abuse.