IJCRR

Introduction

Abuse is inappropriate behaviour and harmful treatment that influences many populations throughout the world. It is the inappropriate use or treating of the person who is often done by the abuser to unwarranted or inappropriate profit. It classified abuse in many types, such as physical maltreatment, verbal maltreatment, assault, violation, rape, or eve-teasing. A great deal of maltreatment is unavoidable and only can be escaped once they take place. Eve-teasing and sexual abuse are two types of abuse.¹ Eve-teasing is the making of unwanted sexual remarks in public places ² and sexual abuse is sexual behaviour acted upon without consent ³ Assertive training is the program that is used to modulate the behaviour of the person and stand for their rights in the right way. It helps in empowering themselves, interacts equally with every person in society, and creates a positive sense of one. It also increases the respect for self and others. The principal aim of assertiveness training is to teach the person about using social skills in social gathering and recognizing the needs and outcomes for the communication.⁴

The world health organization estimates that according to worldwide health statistics, 879,000 adolescents have experiences with sexual abuse.⁵ According to a census, in the world, the maximum number of adolescents i.e. 375 million are living in India and these are covering 40% of India’s total population. Out of this 40% of the population, 69% of adolescents are the victim of different abuse like physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.⁵ According to a report released in 2016 on criminal offenses in New Delhi, India presented by the former Home Minister of India Rajnath Singh, 1,06,958 cases were reported about the crimes for adolescents in the year 2016. Out of these, 36,022 cases were reported for sexual abuse and the reason was neglect and unable to discuss. ⁶According to a study conducted on sexual abuse, One-third of the total sample collected had experienced anyone type of abuse sexual abuse. The study also reported gender differences in preferences of sexual abuse.⁷

Objectives

1. To assess the pre-test knowledge regarding prevention of abuse among adolescent girls.

2. To plan and implement the assertive training program regarding the prevention of abuse among adolescent girls.

3. To assess the post-test knowledge regarding prevention of abuse among adolescent girls.

4. To compare the pre-test and post-test knowledge regarding prevention of abuse among adolescent girls.

5. To determine the association of knowledge regarding prevention of abuse among adolescent girls with their selected socio-demographical variables.

Related work:

Patel V et al. conducted a research study in Goa, India on adolescents on sexual abuse and risk behaviours among adolescents. The study was conducted among 12-17 years of adolescents. A total of 811 adolescents were selected and among them 53% were males and 47% were females. The findings revealed that one-third i.e. 266 adolescents had experienced some type of sexual abuse. Out of those 266 adolescents, 47% of adolescents had experienced sexual abuse more than a single time. Gender contrasting was also seen in the types of sexual abuse recorded in the study. There are also differences found in the risk behaviours’ of urban-rural school students. The risk behaviours were found for the students from older students or friends was maximum i.e. 53%, 8% for relatives, 4% of teachers and miscellaneous were 27%. The final findings showed that increased rates of sexual abuse are because of low awareness. ⁷

Anderson J et al. conducted a research study to find out the prevalence of sexual abuse among children and the nature of sexual abuse in childhood. The research design was used using a two-stage design in which one is with the help of a questionnaire and the other is the face-to-face interview. The sample provided general information on different aspects like prevalence rates, types of abuse, age of the victim, and relation of the abuser with victim and cohort effects. The results revealed that one-third of women in the study i.e. a woman in every three women having one or more times undesirable or forced sexual experiences. The results also revealed that a total of 70% were involved in genital intercourse or other more severe abuse, 12% of them were having sexual intercourse. The results also showed that the majority of the offenders were young men. The prevalence rates also showed that there are no urban or rural differences among samples with their age groups. ⁸

Kathleen B et al. carried out a research study in the United States on childhood sexual abuse by family members. The study aimed to assess that if a woman is sexually abused as a child in her own family had also experienced more childhood abuses in other forms like physical abuse as compared to the women who had experienced physical abuse. The sample includes 60 females who were not sexually abused and 89 females who were sexually abused in their own families. The study showed that the sexual abuse-related factors and violence in the family members of the victim must be contemplated for the individuals and strategies to stop the potential crimes by experienced individuals. ⁹

Carry PD et al. conducted a cross-sectional study in South Africa on risk indicators and psychopathology in traumatized children and adolescents with any history of sexual abuse. The study sample showed the results about risk indicators in traumatized children and the most prevalent psychological after-effects of trauma. The total sample selected was 94 and those were selected as who are exposed to any trauma in their life. The final results of the study showed that increased rates in child sexual abuse are indicating higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorders in the selected traumatized samples. ¹⁰

Nwadinobi V conducted a study for assessing the role of assertiveness training programs for the prevention of non-consensual sexual experiences and abuse. The total study sample in the research study was 50 girls. The study indicated that 6 sessions were administered among 50 girls. The findings revealed that there is a significant improvement in the knowledge that non-consensual sexual abuse is a legal issue. ¹¹

Abraham S conducted a quasi-experimental study of the management of sexual harassment through assertiveness skills. The study consisted of 150 adolescent girls. The findings revealed that the majority of adolescent girls have some form of sexual harassment experience. There is a slight change in assertiveness level after intervention as well as a change in management of sexual harassment skills.¹²

Lobo L conducted a research study on the relationship of sexual abuse knowledge with assertiveness skills and self-confidence among young adolescent girls. The study consisted of the four selected high schools in Mangalore city. The sample size was 100 respondents i.e. 25 girls of age group 13-15 years from each school. The research study concluded that nearly half of the girls were having poor knowledge. The findings also revealed that there is a significant increase in the knowledge of the girls with increasing assertiveness scores.¹³

Dzimadi R had undertaken a study to evaluate the knowledge of sexual abuse among female adolescents in Malawi. A total of 219 samples were selected from systematic random sampling. The results showed that 41% of sexual abuse was prevalent in the selected sample, 55.6% reported the sexual abuse, 44.4% of the total sample were silent about their experiences. 27.8% of the total sample had told about sexual abuse to their friends, 16.7% of them had told to their mothers, 7.8% of them told to other family members including sisters, aunt’s etc.¹⁴

Amole K ascertained a study to know the impact of assertive training programs among nurses. The study findings revealed that a highly significant difference was noticed between before and after training programs regarding the practice of communication skills, assertiveness and self-esteem. ¹⁵

Makinde OB et al. undertook a study to evaluate the effects of assertiveness training on self-esteem in Lagos secondary schools. The sample selected was a total of 96 adolescents i.e. 48 males and 48 females from schools. The research design was quasi-experimental with a pre-test post-test control group method was undertaken. Two tools are used to find the final results for the study. The findings concluded that assertiveness training and mentoring were quite effective for increasing self-efficiency. The study also concluded that there was no association between religion and the educational status of parents with assertiveness training and mentoring. ¹⁶

Material and methods

Ethical clearance was taken before conducting the study from the ethical committee of MHR D.A.V Institute of Nursing, Jalandhar. The reference number of the ethical committee approval letter is 8A/39.

This pre-experimental research design was conducted at MHR DAV Institute of Nursing, Jalandhar, Punjab. The sample was adolescent girls studying in B.Sc. (N) 1^st and 2^nd year and those who are interested to attend the data collection procedure.

Research approach: Quantitative research approach was contemplated and found appropriate for the study.

Study design: Pre-experimental research design with one group pre-test post-test method was used in the study.

Study Location: The study was carried out in a nursing institute based in Jalandhar, Punjab at MHR DAV Institute of Nursing.

The sample size was 100 adolescent girls studying in B.Sc. (N) 1^st and 2^nd year.

Sampling technique: The technique to draw the sample used was Non-probability purposive sampling.

Methodology

Development of tool:

Part I: - Socio-demographic variables: The variables to find out the personal information of subjects on aspects like age, residential area, currently residing in, type of family, father and mother’s education and occupation and previous source of knowledge regarding prevention of abuse.

Part II: - Self-structured knowledge questionnaire to evaluate the knowledge regarding prevention of abuse.

Data collection procedure

Final data were collected after getting administrative acquiescence. The aim of the research was described to the sample and was assured regarding anonymity and confidentiality of the data given by them, and informed consent was obtained to engage in the investigation.

Pre-test: Pre-test was administered to adolescent girls in the form of a structured knowledge questionnaire on the prevention of abuse.

Implementation of Assertive Training Program: The assertive training program was administered (Figure 1) on the same day of the pre-test to adolescent girls.

Post-test: Post-test was carried out on the 3^rd day of pre-test with the same set of structured knowledge questionnaires on prevention of abuse.

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed using inferential and descriptive interpretation. Interpretation and evaluation of data were performed employing percentage, mean, and mean percentage, standard deviation, chi-square and paired t-test. Paired t-test was performed to ascertain the significant differences between mean pre-test and mean post-test values. Chi-square was employed to know the association of knowledge with selected socio-demographic variables.

Results

Description of socio-demographic variables

Most of the adolescent girls i.e. 68% are in the age group of 19-20 years, 47% of adolescent girls are residing in urban areas, majority of adolescent girls i.e.75% are currently residing in a hostel, 78% of adolescent girls are belonging to the nuclear family, 62% of adolescent girls are having previous knowledge about prevention of abuse from media, 38% of adolescent girl’s fathers are having education up to 11^th to 12^th, 36% of adolescent girl’s mothers are having education of graduate or above, 36% of adolescent girl’s fathers are a government employee and 82% of adolescent girl’s mothers are home-maker.

Maximum score = 30                                                   ***Significant at 0.001 level

Minimum score = 00                                                                df=99

The mean pre-test knowledge score was 13.90 (±4.56) and mean of post-test knowledge score was 19.96 (±3.26) (Figure 2). The findings revealed that mean difference between pre-test and post-test knowledge was 6.06. The calculated‘t’ value (11.23) was found to be statistically significant at 0.001 level of significance (Table 1). Hence, it revealed that the difference in the mean pre-test and mean post-test knowledge score regarding prevention of abuse was a true difference not by chance.

df = 99                                                                         * =    Significant at 0.05 level  

*** = Significant at 0.001 level                         NS=   Non-Significant

The findings indicate the mean pre-test and post-test knowledge scores of different areas regarding prevention of abuse among adolescent girls.

It showed the total gain in the knowledge after an assertive training program in the concept of eve-teasing (0.49), causes and impact of eve-teasing (1.13), the concept of sexual abuse (0.61), acts involved in sexual abuse (1.08) and prevention of abuse through assertiveness (2.63) (Table 2) (Figure 3).

The calculated t-test for the concept of abuse and eve-teasing is 1.26 which is not found significant, concept and impact of eve-teasing is 2.04 which is significant at the level of 0.05, the concept of sexual abuse is 1.90 which is found significant at 0.05 level, acts involved in the sexual abuse is 1.98 which is also significant at 0.05 level and prevention of abuse through an assertive training program is 4.66 which is highly significant at 0.001 level (Table 2)