Pa, Mohamad Najib Mat (2026) Effectiveness of smartshield sexual abuse prevention in primary school children in Malaysia. PhD thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
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Abstract
Child sexual abuse is a silent health emergency, with serious consequences for children. School-based education helps children recognize unsafe situations and protect themselves. This study aimed to determine the usability of the SmartShield modules, validate the questionnaires, determine the proportion of knowledge, attitude, and skills for sexual abuse prevention and compare the effectiveness of SmartShield modules than classroom-based pedagogical approaches among primary school children. Phase 1 was a cross-sectional study using the validated Malay System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire, involving 30 parents and teachers through convenient sampling. SmartShield 1 for lower primary and SmartShield 2 for upper primary questionnaires were developed. Content validity assessed by six experts, face validity by 10 teachers, and internal structure assessment by 167 primary school children. Phase 2 involved a cross-sectional study employing stratified multistage cluster sampling with single proportion formula estimated 900 school children using validated SmartShield questionnaires. A descriptive analysis was conducted. Phase 3 was a quasi-experimental controlled trial with pre- and post-assessments at baseline, Week 2, and Week 4. Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted. Phase 1, the median (IQR) SUS score for SmartShield 1 was 95.0 (89.38, 98.13), and SmartShield 2 was 96.3 (87.5, 100.0). Content validity for knowledge, attitude, and skills of SmartShield 1 were 0.85, 0.98, and 0.95, respectively, and for SmartShield 2 were 0.90, 0.94, and 0.94, respectively. Phase 2, 48.1% of lower primary children had high knowledge, 39.8% had positive attitudes, and 78.5% had good skills. For upper primary, the figures were 59.9%, 41.4%, and 78.9%, respectively. Phase 3, there were significant differences in score changes for knowledge (p < .001), attitude (p = .015) and skills (p < .001) for lower primary school children. There were significant differences in score changes for knowledge (p < .001), attitude (p < .001) and skills (p < .001) for upper primary school children. SmartShield questionnaires are valid tools for evaluating knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to sexual education. 48% to 60% have a high knowledge, 40% have positive attitudes toward sexual education, and 78% have good skills in preventing sexual abuse. The SmartShield 1 and SmartShield 2 module was effective than classroom-based pedagogical approaches and should be considered for integration into the national school curriculum.
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Child sexual abuse |
| Subjects: | R Medicine R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services |
| Divisions: | Kampus Kesihatan (Health Campus) > Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan (School of Medical Sciences) > Thesis |
| Depositing User: | Mr Abdul Hadi Mohammad |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Jul 2026 06:56 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jul 2026 06:56 |
| URI: | http://eprints.usm.my/id/eprint/64001 |
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