Title: Child Sexual Abuse: Level of Awareness among Medical Students in context of the POCSO Act
Authors: Minakshi Bhosale, Caryn Carvalho, Nazrah Shaikh
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i9.71
Abstract
Objective: Present study aims to analyze the level of awareness about various practical aspects of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) among MBBS students in context of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Methods: Five hundred eighty six MBBS students studying in a Government Medical College in Maharashtra, India were given a questionnaire testing various aspects of CSA from incidence, prevalence, signs and symptoms, psychological impact, treatment guidelines, to legal remedies available in context of the POCSO Act, 2012. It contained ten Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with four options each. The questionnaire was handed over to the students at the beginning of other academic activity (Lecture) and they were asked to mark one correct answer for each MCQ within 15 minutes’ time. There were 277 males and 309 females between 18 to 25 years of age. Five hundred fifty eight students attempted all MCQs. Answers were corrected according to model answer sheet provided. The scores were recorded and results were analyzed.
Results: 90 % of the students had scores <5, meaning there is lack of awareness about CSA even among MBBS students.
Conclusions: There is scope for conducting workshops / symposia to create awareness about various practical aspects of CSA among MBBS students. It is the need of the hour to include CSA as part of the medical curriculum so that these budding doctors will be sensitized towards CSA and will be future-ready to tackle the ever increasing number of cases of CSA.
Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, MBBS Students, Level of Awareness, Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
