Preventive Treatment on Sexual Abuse Survivor with Mental Retardation

Abstract

The existence of limitations for children with mental retardation causes an inability to protect themselves so that they often become victims of sexual harassment. Preventive efforts are something that needs to be improved for prevention, considering the worse risks to children. The importance of an effort to prevent sexual abuse of children with mental retardation in connection with the lack of knowledge about sexual abuse and the inability of children to face the dangers that threaten themselves. From the results of research conducted in the United States in 1994, nearly 90% of children with mental retardation disorders had experienced sexual abuse, as many as 49% had experienced sexual abuse more than ten times. The high incidence of sexual abuse experienced by children with mental retardation is due to various factors, namely the condition of children's limitations, lack of supervision and protection of children by parents and the environment. Efforts that can be made are increasing knowledge about sexual abuse and self-protection skills through the Behavioral Skills Training Group Program, where children are trained to recognize threatening objects and situations (sexual abuse). Increasing knowledge about sexual abuse and providing training (self-protection skills) is a significant primary preventive measure to reduce the risk of sexual abuse in children with mental retardation.