South African parents’ perspectives and experiences of child sexual abuse prevention education during early childhood

Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse is an increasingly urgent concern, particularly as technological advancements have made it easier to create and distribute harmful content. In South Africa, the incidence of child sexual abuse is very high. Child sexual abuse prevention education, which teaches children about privacy, bodily autonomy, and safety strategies, is a key approach to mitigating risk. However, child sexual abuse prevention remains under-researched in South Africa, particularly regarding parental involvement, and during early childhood, despite evidence that parents play a critical role in educating children about protective behaviors. This study explores South African parents’ perspectives and experiences on implementing child sexual abuse prevention education during early childhood. A qualitative approach, involving semi-structured interviews with 12 parents, was employed. The use of reflective thematic analysis identified three main themes: 1) the child sexual abuse narrative, 2) parental experiences with child sexual abuse prevention education, and 3) childhood sexual abuse prevention as a collective effort. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions in South Africa to empower parents in early childhood child sexual abuse prevention, emphasizing a collaborative approach to protecting children.