Effective delivery methods and teaching strategies for child sexual abuse prevention : A rapid evidence check

[Executive summary] Most existing literature reviews of child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention education or child-focused behavioural self-protection programs investigate in-person school-based programs. School-based prevention programs that include children as participants are the most typically used method of CSA prevention education (Martin & Silverstone, 2016). Multiple reviews (Walsh et al., 2015; Wurtele, 2009; Zwi et al., 2007) have shown that child-focused school-based programs can be an effective approach to increase children’s knowledge, engagement in self-protective behaviours, and reporting behaviours (cited in Martin & Silverstone, 2016: (Davis & Gidycz, 2000; Fryda & Hulme, 2015; MacMillan et al., 2009; Walsh et al., 2015; Zwi et al., 2007). School-based programs are a means for prevention educators to reach children directly from a range of socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds (Wurtele, 2009). However, there is limited data to suggest that online delivery of programs that are directed towards or include children as participants are used in CSA prevention education strategies, and limited evidence to show whether or not they can be an effective approach to increase children’s knowledge, self-protective behaviours and reporting behaviours. This appears to be due to the limited number of online prevention programs available for evaluation and review. In addition, we found no literature on what content and teaching method changes should be made when adapting an in-person CSA prevention education program for delivery online. This rapid evidence check presents the current state of CSA prevention programs, reviewing their utility and effectiveness for CSA prevention education for children. It includes recommendations about the design and delivery of programs for pre-schoolers and children in the early primary school years (aged 2-8 years) that need to be considered when adapting and delivering prevention education online