Enhancing child safety: Evaluating a toolkit for sexual abuse prevention education in primary schools

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed toolkit designed to aid primary school teachers in teaching child sexual abuse prevention skills in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam. A survey was conducted among 534 primary school teachers, who were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (128 teachers) or a control group (129 teachers). Both groups assessed the difficulties and feasibility of using supporting materials before and after the experiment. Initially, both groups reported comparable levels of difficulty with the materials. After the experiment, the experimental group had a significant reduction in difficulty (p < 0.05), showing the intervention was beneficial. Teachers in the experimental group assessed the materials as highly feasible for teaching sexual abuse prevention techniques. Notably, a large proportion of Di An City and Thuan An City teachers assessed them as "Very feasible" or "Feasible" (40.7% and 59.3%, respectively), with no negative feedback. Comprehensive training and well-supported resources significantly enhance teachers' confidence and ability to teach sexual abuse prevention. Effective program implementation requires targeted professional development, interactive teaching techniques, and community involvement to create a supportive learning environment. Prioritizing these factors can improve program effectiveness, contributing to the safety and well-being of children.