Effectiveness of Assertiveness Training Programme on Knowledge and Attitude of Adolescent Girls Regarding Prevention of Sexual Abuse

Navodita Karmakar; SUMITY ARORA; Shalini Franky

doi:10.37591/jonsp.v10i2.1978

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual violence against girls is a global human rights violation of vastproportion with severe health and social consequences. In this view, a pre experimental studywas conducted to assess the effectiveness of Assertiveness Training Programme (ATP) on theknowledge and attitude of adolescents regarding prevention of sexual abuse. The objectives ofthe study were to develop and assess the effectiveness of ATP in terms of gain in knowledgeand attitude for adolescent girls for prevention of sexual abuse and to correlate knowledgeand attitude of adolescent girls towards prevention of sexual abuse. Materials and Methods:Quantitative research approach was adopted. Pre-experimental one group pre-test post-testresearch design was adopted. Ethical permission was obtained from ethical committee.Formal permission was obtained from the concerned authority of the school. The study wasconducted in a private school in New Delhi. 60 adolescent girls were selected throughstratified random sampling technique. Tools used in the study were structured knowledgequestionnaire and attitude scale. Tool 1, had two parts, Part A: socio demographic variables,Part B: structured knowledge questionnaire consisting of 20 knowledge items. Tool 2, attitudescale consisted 20 items on five point Likert scale. Final version of the ATP included theconcise topics on introduction, types of sexual abuse, grooming process, effects of sexualabuse, prevention of sexual abuse, definition of assertiveness, assertive communication,response patterns, behavioural components, and techniques of assertive communication. Thedata was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: The results showed thatapproximately (83.33%) of the adolescents had good knowledge scores, (16.66%) hadaverage knowledge scores and nobody had poor knowledge scores through ATP regardingprevention of sexual abuse. The majority of the adolescents (70%) had favorable attitude and(30%) had unfavorable attitude towards prevention of sexual abuse through ATP. There wasstatistically significant/strong positive correlation between knowledge and attitude ofadolescents regarding prevention of sexual abuse. Conclusion: The study concluded that onethird of the adolescents still had inadequate knowledge regarding prevention of sexual abuse.There is a need to acknowledge the problem nationwide. Assertiveness training programshowed the gain in knowledge and attitude score of the adolescents.Keywords: Adolescent girls, ATP, attitude, knowledge, Likert scale, sexual abuse