NCJ Number
180133
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: October 1999 Pages: 279-292
Editor(s)
Barry M. Maletzky
Date Published
1999
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This case study describes the evaluation of the first public health campaign designed to target adults for the prevention of child sexual abuse.
Abstract
A half-million children are believed to be sexually abused each year in the United States. In 1995 the American medical Association declared sexual assault "a silent violent epidemic." The majority of efforts to stop child sexual abuse have focused on punishing abusers and treating victims and their families. Prevention programs are uncommon and rely on educating children to report sexual abuse. The evaluation reported in this article focused, however on a prevention program that targets adults. A baseline assessment of attitudes, awareness, knowledge, and policies was conducted in Vermont to identify facilitators and barriers to adult prevention of child sexual abuse. These included predisposing factors (50 percent of Vermont residents did not know the characteristics of an abuser), enabling factors (60 percent of Vermont residents did not know where to refer someone who may have sexual behavior problems), and reinforcing factors (when focus group participants knew an abuser, they were less likely to take action). This process guided the intervention, which included a broad-based media campaign that targeted adults; a one-to-one communications strategy that provided information to agencies working with families at risk and a toll-free helpline for adults in an abuse situation; and a systems change strategy designed to educate decisionmakers and leaders. Program evaluation measures included a random-digit dial survey, focus groups, a survey of Vermont decisionmakers, and other data sets. Initial evaluation results indicate that the prevention strategies have been successful. Surveys and focus groups show a shift in public awareness and knowledge over the 2 years of the program. The number of helpline calls suggests that, given the opportunity, abusers and family members will call for help. Suggestions are offered for future efforts. 1 table and 23 references