Attitude of Mothers Regarding Child Sexual Abuse and their Perspectives on its Prevention in Urban Bengaluru, India: A Qualitative Study

Sexual abuse of children is a global issue that can have long-term consequences for the child. Between 18% and 50% of Indians are believed to have experienced some form of sexual abuse during their lifetime (Carson et al., 2013). To effectively prevent sexual abuse, it is critical to understand mothers’ attitudes and perspectives on prevention. Sexual abuse of children cannot be eradicated without parental involvement. Additionally, the goal of implementation programmes is to ascertain and assess parents’ attitudes toward prevention. In this regard, the current study’s objective is to better understand mothers’ attitudes and perspectives on child sexual abuse prevention. To investigate mothers’ attitudes, an exploratory qualitative design was used; eight women living in urban Bengaluru were recruited using a purposive sampling technique. A semi-structured interview was conducted based on two themes that emerged; all data was transcribed verbatim. Braun and Clarke’s method of thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings of the study indicate all respondents had a positive attitude towards sexual abuse prevention and the need for prevention programs.