Abstract

Background and Objectives: Statistics show that most children have faced some form of sexual abuse at some point. This study aims at studying this pattern among the urban college students so we can work towards formulating better policies to educate children and their parents regarding this relevant psychosocial issue. Material and Methods: This was a cross sectional study done among medical students from ACMS, New Delhi with consent; with approval of the IEC. Google forms were used. The questionnaire assessed demography, occurrence of prior CSA, details, knowledge of POCSO, actions taken, etc. None of the questions breach their anonymity. Results: Out of 230 participants who consented to the study, 52 reported to have experienced some form of sexual abuse during childhood, most of the victims were adolescent females, most victims had experienced inappropriate touch and groping. All the abusers were male with maximum being known to the victim. Most victims did not report their experience, and even in the reported cases, no action was taken. Most victims experienced fear and shame following the incident. Knowledge about POCSO was present in almost 50% of the participants, and most participants had not been educated about recognising signs of sexual abuse by their parents or guardians. Conclusion: Child sexual abuse is a dark reality that is common in India and adversely impacts mental health. This study highlights the crucial and underdiscussed issue of CSA within urban populations, exploring knowledge and experiences that shape understanding and response to this grave concern.

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