Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 12(5), pp. 793 - 798
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2024.120501
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Knowledge and Social Aspects of Minors Sexual Abuse in Two Communes in Southern Benin: A Study Conducted on Social Workers and Parents of Children

Ella Kossouoh ^1,*, Charles Sossa ², Adolphe Kpatchavi ³, Badirou Aguemon ^4
1 Doctoral School of Health Sciences of Cotonou, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
² Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
³ Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
⁴ Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin

ABSTRACT

Around the world some children, far from living in a peaceful climate of protection and love, are victims of abuse from adults or older teenagers. The objectives of this work were to describe the level of knowledge of social professionals and parents of children and then to analyze the social aspects of minors sexual abuse in two communes in southern Benin. This was a cross-sectional study on social workers and parents of children who are victims or not of sexual abuse received in social promotion centers in the communes of Abomey-Calavi and So-Ava in southern Benin from 2018 to 2022. The study population consisted of 62 social workers, 129 parents of sexually abused children and 132 parents of children who were not victims. 45.18% of the social workers surveyed had an acceptable mastery of the subject, unlike the parents of children who were victims of sexual violence (20.16%) or not (8.33%), most of whom had an insufficient level. The most common behaviors of parents after the occurrence of sexual abuse on their children were reprimands (78.94%) and compassion (21.05%). The abuse is often committed in conducive family conditions (precariousness and family disorganization) that render children vulnerable and parents unable to protect them. Thus, factors that promote sexual violence against minors include poverty, promiscuity, and celibacy (single parents). An action plan that puts parental education at the heart of the theory of change based on an appropriate communication strategy, should therefore be developed at the national level, targeting the entire population, especially parents/tutors, social workers, children, teenagers, youth, and community child protection mechanisms.

KEYWORDS
Sexual Abuse, Minor, Mental Health, Social Workers

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Ella Kossouoh , Charles Sossa , Adolphe Kpatchavi , Badirou Aguemon , "Knowledge and Social Aspects of Minors Sexual Abuse in Two Communes in Southern Benin: A Study Conducted on Social Workers and Parents of Children," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp. 793 - 798, 2024. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2024.120501.

(b). APA Format:
Ella Kossouoh , Charles Sossa , Adolphe Kpatchavi , Badirou Aguemon (2024). Knowledge and Social Aspects of Minors Sexual Abuse in Two Communes in Southern Benin: A Study Conducted on Social Workers and Parents of Children. Universal Journal of Public Health, 12(5), 793 - 798. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2024.120501.