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

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual violence against girls is a global human rights violation of vast
proportion with severe health and social consequences. In this view, a pre experimental study
was conducted to assess the effectiveness of Assertiveness Training Programme (ATP) on the
knowledge and attitude of adolescents regarding prevention of sexual abuse. The objectives of
the study were to develop and assess the effectiveness of ATP in terms of gain in knowledge
and attitude for adolescent girls for prevention of sexual abuse and to correlate knowledge
and attitude of adolescent girls towards prevention of sexual abuse. Materials and Methods:
Quantitative research approach was adopted. Pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test
research design was adopted. Ethical permission was obtained from ethical committee.
Formal permission was obtained from the concerned authority of the school. The study was
conducted in a private school in New Delhi. 60 adolescent girls were selected through
stratified random sampling technique. Tools used in the study were structured knowledge
questionnaire 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, attitude
scale consisted 20 items on five point Likert scale. Final version of the ATP included the
concise topics on introduction, types of sexual abuse, grooming process, effects of sexual
abuse, prevention of sexual abuse, definition of assertiveness, assertive communication,
response patterns, behavioural components, and techniques of assertive communication. The
data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: The results showed that
approximately (83.33%) of the adolescents had good knowledge scores, (16.66%) had
average knowledge scores and nobody had poor knowledge scores through ATP regarding
prevention 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 was
statistically significant/strong positive correlation between knowledge and attitude of
adolescents regarding prevention of sexual abuse. Conclusion: The study concluded that one
third of the adolescents still had inadequate knowledge regarding prevention of sexual abuse.
There is a need to acknowledge the problem nationwide. Assertiveness training program
showed the gain in knowledge and attitude score of the adolescents.
Keywords: Adolescent girls, ATP, attitude, knowledge, Likert scale, sexual abuse