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Abstract
Sexual violence among adolescents has become a major public health concern in Sri Lanka. Lack of sexual awareness is a major reason for adverse sexual health outcomes among adolescents in Sri Lanka. This study was intended to explore the effectiveness of a worksite-based parent-targeted intervention to improve mothers' knowledge, and attitudes on preventing sexual violence among their adolescent female offspring and to improve mother-daughter communication of sexual violence prevention with the family. "My mother is my best friend" is an intervention designed based on previous research and behavioral theories, to help parents to improve their sexual communication skills with their adolescent daughters. A quasi-experimental study was conducted from August 2020 to March 2023 in randomly selected two Medical Officer of Health (MOH)areas in Kalutara district, Sri Lanka. Pre and post-assessments were conducted among a sample of 135 mothers of adolescent girls aged 14-19 years in both intervention and control areas. Out of the 135 mothers who participated in the baseline survey, 127 mothers (94.1%) from the intervention area (IA) physically participated in at least one session of the intervention. The worksite-based intervention was effective in improving mothers' knowledge about adolescent sexual abuse prevention (Difference in percentage difference of pre and post intervention scores in IA and CA = 4.3%, p = 0.004), mother's attitudes in communicating sexual abuse prevention with adolescent girls (Difference in percentage difference of pre and post intervention scores in IA and CA = 5.9%, p = 0.005), and the content of mother-daughter sexual communication (Difference in percentage difference of pre and post intervention scores in IA and CA = 27.1%, p < 0.001). Worksite-based parenting program was effective in improving mothers' knowledge about sexual abuse prevention among adolescent daughters and in improving the content of mother-daughter communication about sexual abuse prevention. Developing appropriate sexual health programs for mothers of different ethnicities, and cultures using different settings is important. Conduction of need assessment programs to identify the different needs of mothers is recommended.
Highlights
Sexual violence among adolescents has become a major public health concern in Sri Lanka
Out of the 135 mothers who participated in the baseline survey, 127 mothers (94.1%) from the intervention area (IA) physically participated in at least one session of the intervention
It was discovered that 67% of Sri Lankan parents lack knowledge about child sexual abuse [13].The objective of this study was to develop a comprehensive intervention for mothers of adolescent girls, to enhance their understanding and enable them to convey crucial information to their daughters about preventing child sexual
Summary
Sexual violence among adolescents has become a major public health concern in Sri Lanka. Lack of sexual awareness is a major reason for adverse sexual health outcomes among adolescents in Sri Lanka. Sexual violence and coercion involving children are seen in every part of society occurring in homes, workplaces, communities, and public spaces. The UNICEF reports depict that worldwide, at least one in ten girls under the age of twenty are being forced into some form of sexual activity [2]. Cases of sexual abuse and violence among children and adolescents in Sri Lanka are often under-reported due to stigma and ignorance [3]. A study reported that 14% of both male and female students in Sri Lanka suffered some form of sexual abuse [4]. A significant 23% of sexually active school adolescents experienced non-consensual sexual intercourse [5]
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