A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Child-to-Child Approach on Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Good Touch and Bad Touch Among School-Age Children in Selected Schools at Kovilpatti

Abstract

Teaching children about personal boundaries and body safety is essential to their development and protection. A study to assess the effectiveness of the child-to-child approach on knowledge and attitude regarding good touch and bad touch among school-age children in selected schools at Kovilpatti. The study aims to help school-age children gain enough knowledge and attitude towards good touch and bad touch. The study objectives are to assess the pre-test and post-test level of knowledge and attitude regarding good touch and bad touch among school age children, to evaluate the effectiveness of child-to-child approach on knowledge and attitude regarding good touch and bad touch among school age children, to find out the association between pre-test level of knowledge and attitude regarding good touch and bad touch with their demographic variables among school age children. The study followed an experimental one-group pretest-posttest design in the experimental group. The sample size consisted of 60 school-age children who were selected using a consecutive sampling technique. The study was conducted in a selected school, St. Paul’s Matric Higher Secondary School at Kovilpatti, for the experimental group. Pre-tests were done using the modified children’s knowledge of abuse questionnaire (MCKAQRIII) and a self-structured attitude checklist. Five students were selected according to their academic performance, with the guidance of the staff, and good touch, bad touch teaching was given to them. And their ideas of knowledge were shared with the selected samples as 5 groups of 12 in each for 15-20 minutes a day for about one month. Post-test was done for the experimental group on the 29^th and 30^th day after to child's approach using the same tool. The data were analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. During the pre-test in the experimental group, the majority of the students reported less knowledge and attitude towards good touch and bad touch, whereas during the post-test, most of them had adequate knowledge and attitude towards good touch and bad touch. The findings have revealed that the mean score of knowledge and attitude among school-age children in the experimental group was 10.86 and 15.43 during pre-test, respectively, and was 18.18 and 17.96 during post-test, respectively. The paired t-test value for knowledge was 24.14*** and attitude 11.21***, which is significant at p≤0.05 level and highly significant at p≤ 0.01, p≤0.001. The mean level of attitude in the experimental group was 15.43 in the pre-test and 17.96 in the post-test. The paired ‘t’ value is 11.21***, which is significant at p≤0.05 and highly significant at p≤0.01, p≤0,001. It indicated that the child-to-child approach to knowledge and attitude is effective among school-age children in selected schools.