• KAMINI PRAKASH REGE
• Priyanshi Madhwani
• Jaiti Gala
• Manasi Bist
• Virginia Dias

Child sexual abuse is a form of abuse that includes sexual activity with a minor (below the age 18). A child cannot consent to any form of sexual activity, period. When a perpetrator engages with a child this way, they are committing a crime that can have lasting effects on the victim for years. The aim of this research was to compare prior and post intervention, of the awareness regarding child sexual abuse and the POCSO act, among young women (17-21 years). Quantitative and qualitative methods were used in this study. 210 young women with the age ranging between 17-21 years participated in this research. The girls were grouped at the centre according to their streams. The participants were given pretest, then the intervention programme to create awareness regarding Child Sexual Abuse and the POCSO act, followed by the posttest. A drastic change in the awareness regarding child sexual abuse was noted by the researchers after comparing pretest and the posttest. Also, on comparing the pretest and the posttest it was found that almost all of the participants were unaware about the identification and prevention of child sexual abuse as well as POCSO act prior to the intervention. Whereas, very few of the participants stated that they are unaware about the POCSO act post intervention. And therefore, overall findings show that knowledge and practice among young women is inadequate to protect children from CSA, though the intervention has increased their awareness. The findings from this research will be useful in developing CSA prevention education programs in schools and communities, designed to improve knowledge and practice of CSA prevention.

awareness, Child Sexual Abuse, POCSO act, young women, intervention

"DISCOVERY PROCESS: IDENTIFICATION, AWARENESS AND PREVENTION REGARDING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AMONG YOUNG WOMEN (17-21 YEARS)", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no.324-335, June-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1906339.pdf

"DISCOVERY PROCESS: IDENTIFICATION, AWARENESS AND PREVENTION REGARDING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AMONG YOUNG WOMEN (17-21 YEARS)", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no. pp324-335, June-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1906339.pdf