A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on the Knowledge Regarding Child Abuse among School Age Children in Selected School, Odisha

Background: Child abuse is a serious global concern that affects the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of children. School-age children are especially vulnerable due to limited awareness and inability to report incidents. Educating children about child abuse and preventive measures can play a crucial role in safeguarding their rights and promoting a safe environment. Methodology: A pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test design was adopted. A total of 30 school-age children studying in classes VI to VIII at a selected school in Jajpur, Odisha, were selected through systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire. After the pre-test, the STP on child abuse was administered, and a post-test was conducted after one week. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean, standard deviation, paired‘t’ test, and chi-square test. Result: The findings revealed that in the pre-test, the majority of children (66.7%) had inadequate knowledge, while none had adequate knowledge. After the intervention, knowledge levels significantly improved, with 56.7% attaining adequate knowledge. The mean pre-test score was 9.7, which increased to 21 in the post-test, with a mean difference of 11.3. The calculated paired‘t’ value (26) was highly significant at p