“children don’t do sex with adults for pleasure”: Sri Lankan children’s views on sex and sexual exploitation

Abstract

Objective: A pilot study to ascertain the prevalence, attitudes and practice of sexual behavior in young adolescent school children at risk of sexual exploitation in Sri Lanka. To find out children’s perceptions of how children can be helped not to be sexually abused and to help those who have already been exploited. Method: An anonymous self completed questionnaire with 145 school children aged 13 to 17 years. Four schools were deliberately selected in high-risk beach areas. Results: Ten percent of children said they had done sexual things, 8% with other children their age, 5% with adults, and 6% with adults for money (8% of children did not respond to this question). Most children felt it was not acceptable for children to do sexual things with adults. Children appeared to be strongly against the damage they felt it could do to children and their communities. Only a small proportion of children said they learnt about sex from school (12%) or their parents (10%). They had a number of misconceptions on AIDS and although a third had received teaching nearly half said they wanted teaching on it. Children had creative ideas on intervention but much of it focused on what adults could do to address the root causes of inadequate care of children. Children also felt that adults should be punished which contrasts with the police attitude which has been criticized for putting the blame on the child rather than the adult. Conclusions: As recipients of sexual exploitation, children have insights into the problem and are able to give information that can be used in policy and planning of preventive, sex education and rehabilitation programs addressing sexual exploitation.