A Descriptive study on assess the knowledge regarding good and bad touch among upper primary school children aged 9 to 12 years in selected schools at Kuppam
Year: 2025; Volume: 5; Issue: 2; Page No: 15 – 22
Article Type: Original Article
Authors: Sreedevi TK1*
, Subha Velvizhi2, Melvin David3, Daniel Arun Kumar K4, Jissy Binoy5, Jemi Eldhose6, Greeshma Joseph7, Jotzna Vargheese8, Jayasudha J9
https://doi.org/10.55349/ijmsnr.2025521522
Affiliations:
1Associate Professor, Dept. of Mental Health Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh.
2Professor, Dept. of Child Health Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh.
3Professor, Dept. of Mental Health Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh.
4Professor, Dept. of Medical Surgical Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh.
5, 6, 7, 8, 94th Year B.Sc. Nursing Students, Dept. of Mental Health Nursing, PES College of Nursing, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh.
| How to cite this article: Sreedevi TK, Velvizhi S2, David M3, Daniel AKK4, Binoy J5, Eldhose J6, Joseph G7, Vargheese J8, Jayasudha J9 . A Descriptive study to assess the knowledge regarding good and bad touch among upper primary school children aged 9 to 12 years in selected schools at Kuppam. Int J Med Sci and Nurs Res 2025;5(2):15–22. DOI:https://doi.org/10.55349/ijmsnr.2025521522 |
Corresponding Author:
Mrs. T. K. Sreedevi,
Associate Professor,
Dept. of Mental Health Nursing,
PES College of Nursing,
Kuppam, Andra Pradesh, India.
Email ID: sreedevidevi136@gmail.com
Article Summary: Submitted: 10-April-2025 Revised: 30-April-2025 Accepted: 27-May-2025 Published: 30-June-2025
Abstract
Background: This study assessed the knowledge of upper primary school children regarding good touch and bad touch, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of educational initiatives in reducing child sexual abuse.
Materials and Methods: A total of 164 children (ages 9–12 years) from Kuppam Public School were selected using a simple random sampling technique.
Results: In this study, most 88.4% of children had good knowledge about appropriate and inappropriate touch, while 11.6% had moderate to poor knowledge. Demographic variables such as age, gender, mode of transport, educational status of the child, mother’s occupation, and family income showed moderate significance in knowledge levels. Children from families with higher incomes and those whose mothers had higher education levels demonstrated better knowledge.
Conclusion: From this study, we have concluded that while current efforts in teaching children about good touch and bad touch appear effective, on-going initiatives are necessary to ensure all children receive this crucial education. Strengthening these programs can help safeguard children against sexual abuse and promote their overall safety.
Keywords: knowledge, good touch, bad touch, upper primary school children, descriptive study
Full Text
Introduction
Good touch and bad touch is gradually learnt through a child’s day to day activities. We can increase these learnt behaviors by making an effort to teach a child about the difference between good touch and bad touch in early age. The Good Touch, Bad touch activities aim to teach child about appropriate behavior sexual or otherwise.1 “Childhood” generally signifies happy living, healthy nutrition, love, warmth, support and overall affectionate environment. The attitudinal behavior of children should be hale and hearty. The first sensory input in life comes from the sense touch experienced by a fetus where he/she is in the mother’s womb and feels protective. Parents, siblings, elders, friends and teachers play an important role in a child development.2 “Good touch is touch that cares for them, that is necessary for their health or safety, or makes them feel safe, or is fun. “Bad” touch is any touch that they don’t want or make them feel scared, or any secret touch, or any touch on their genitals or bottom, unless it’s necessary for their health. 3 In India talking about child sexual abuse is still a taboo and mostly faces silence. In most cases, children don’t even realize that they are being abused where their innocence is being exploited. Educating the child to differentiate good and bad touch is need of the hour as most of the sexual abuse is done by people known to child, not strangers4.The terms “good touch and bad touch” are often used to teach kids about what kind of touching is okay and what isn’t. It helps them figure out when they should talk to someone they trust and ask for help, and it also guides them on how to treat others. For kids, “good touch” means touching that takes care of them, is needed for their health or safety, makes them feel secure, or is just plain fun. On the other hand, “bad touch” is any touch that they do not like, feels scary, involves secrets, or happens on private parts of their body, unless it’s necessary for their health. Understanding these differences gives kids the knowledge and confidence to keep themselves safe and happy. [5] Sex education is very important for every child. So should be taught to child in school years just like math. Parents sometimes feel uncomfortable while talking on these sensitive topics but the learning has to start at home by parents. [6] Child molestation and physical abuse are so very rampant. Every other day we get to hear stories about a child being molested or touched inappropriately. What’s more, children who fall prey to this are normally below six years of age. They are too young and innocent to know the difference between right and wrong because the abuser is generally someone known to them and the family. [7]
In this context, the present study aims to assess the level of knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among upper primary school children (aged 9 to 12 years) in selected schools at Kuppam, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, and to determine the association between their levels of knowledge and selected demographic variables.
The main objectives were to assess the level of knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among upper primary school children aged 9 to 12 years in selected schools at Kuppam and to find the association between levels of knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among upper primary school children aged 9 to 12 years in selected schools at Kuppam.
Materials and Methods
We have done a descriptive study assess the knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among upper primary school children with 164 Children were selected by using simple random sampling technique, informed consent were taken before the study by using structured self-administered questionnaire.
Statistical Analysis: Collected data were entered and complied using Microsoft Excel 2013 and data were analyzed using SPSS 14.0 version [SPSS, IBM USA Ltd.] Categorical data were presented as frequency and proportions. Continuous variables were presented as mean and standard deviation. Association between categorical variables was analyzed by Chi-Square test. Correlation was also done.
Results
Gender: majority 89 (55.3%) of the upper primary school children were boys 75 (45.7%) of them were girls. Mode of transport to school: about 64 (39.0%) upper primary school children are using school bus 50 (30.5%) of them were dropping and picking by parents 45 (27.5%) of them were coming in private vehicles, and 5 (3.05%) of them were using other Mode of transport. Religion: majority 134 (81.7%) of the upper primary school children were Hindus 18 (11.0%) were belonged to muslimus,12 (7.3%) was beloned to Christian. `30 Education status of child: about 22 (13.4%) upper primary school children were belongs to 4th standard, 46 (28.0%) of them were belongs to 5th standard 60 (36.6%) of them were belongs to 6thstandard 36 (22.0%) of them were belongs to7th standard. Living area: majority 85 (51.8%) of the upper primary school children were living in urban area 79 (48.2%) were from rural area. Education status of mother: about 31 (18.9%) mothers of the upper primary school children were primary educators, 54 (32.9%) of them were educated up to High school 70 (42.7%) of them done Degree, 9 (5.5%) of them done.
Post graduation Education status of father: About 19 (11.6%) fathers of the upper primary school children were primary educators 32 (19.5%) of them were educated up to High school 97 (59.1%) of them done Degree, 16 (9.8) of them done Post graduation Occupation of the mother: about 43(26.2%) mother of the upper primary employees school children were Government employees, 48 (29.3%) of them were belongs to private employees, 11 (6.7%) of them were belong to daily wages and 62 (37.8%) of them were house wife. Occupation of the father: about 75 (45.7%) father of the upper primary school children were Government employees, 67 (40.9%) of them were belongs private employees, 21 (12.8%) of them were belongs to daily wages, 1 (6%) of them were unemployed Type of the family: about 59 (36.0%) of the upper primary school children were living in joint family 105 (64.0%) were living in nuclear family Monthly income of the family in rupees: about 37 (22.6%) of the upper primary school children monthly income of the family is 40001 Source of information: Majority 85 (51.8%) of the upper primary school children get source of information from teachers, 48 (79.3%) from mass media and 31 (18.9%) from television. [Table – 1]
Table–1 Frequency and percentage distribution of demographic variables among Upper primary schoolchildren
| S. No. | Demographic variables | Frequency
(f) |
Percentage
(%) |
| 1 | Age (in years) | ||
| a) 9 | 29 | 17.1 | |
| b) 10 | 38 | 23.2 | |
| c) 11 | 71 | 43.3 | |
| d) 12 | 27 | 16.5 | |
| 2 | Gender | ||
| a) Boys | 89 | 55.3 | |
| b) Girls | 75 | 45.7 | |
| 3 | Mode of Transport to School | ||
| a) In school bus | 64 | 39 | |
| b) By parents dropping and picking | 50 | 30.5 | |
| c) Private vehicles | 45 | 27.5 | |
| d) Others | 5 | 3 | |
| 4 | Religion | ||
| a) Hindu | 134 | 81.7 | |
| b) Muslim | 18 | 11 | |
| c) Christian | 12 | 7.3 | |
| 5 | Education status of child | ||
| a) 4th std | 22 | 13.4 | |
| b) 5th std | 46 | 28 | |
| c) 6th std | 60 | 36.6 | |
| 6 | Living area | ||
| a) Urban | 85 | 51.8 | |
| b) rural | 79 | 48.2 | |
| 7 | Education status of the mother | ||
| a) primary | 3 | 18.9 | |
| b) High School | 54 | 32.9 | |
| c) Degree | 70 | 42.7 | |
| d) Post-graduation | 9 | 5.5 | |
| 8 | Education status of the father | ||
| a) primary | 19 | 11.6 | |
| b) High School | 32 | 19.5 | |
| c) Degree | 97 | 59.1 | |
| 9 | Occupation of mother | ||
| a) Government | 75 | 45.7 | |
| b) Private | 67 | 40.9 | |
| c) Self employed | 0 | 0 | |
| d) Daily wages | 21 | 12.8 | |
| e) Unemployed | 1 | 6 | |
| 10 | Occupation of father | ||
| a) Government | 75 | 40.9 | |
| b) Private | 67 | 40.9 | |
| c) Self employed | 0 | 0 | |
| d) Daily wages | 21 | 1 | |
| c) Unemployed | 1 | 6 | |
| 11 | Type of family | ||
| a) Joint family | 59 | 36 | |
| b) Nuclear family | 105 | 64 | |
| 12 | Monthly income of the family (in rupees) | ||
| a) & It 2000 | 37 | 22.6 | |
| b) 2000 to 30000 | 88 | 53.7 | |
| c) 30001 to 40000 | 34 | 20.7 | |
| d) & gt40001 | 5 | 3 | |
| 13 | Source of information | ||
| a) Teachers | 85 | 51.8 | |
| b) Mass media | 48 | 79.3 | |
| c) Television | 31 | 18.9 | |
The levels of knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among upper primary school children about 145 (88.4%) of them were having good knowledge and 11 (6.7%) of them were having moderate knowledge , 8 (4.9%) of them were under poor knowledge. [Table–2]
Table–2 Distribution of level of knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among upper primary school children
| Level of Knowledge | No. of Children | Percentage |
| Adequate Knowledge | 145 | 88.4 |
| Moderate Knowledge | 11 | 6.7 |
| In adequate Knowledge | 8 | 4.9 |
Figure–1 Distribution of the levels of knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among upper primary school children
The levels of knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among upper primary school children about 145 (88.4%) of them were having good knowledge and 11 (6.7%) of them were having moderate knowledge. [Figure–1]
Association between levels of knowledge with the demographic variables of upper primary school children as shown in Table–3.
Table–3 Association between levels of knowledge with the demographic variables of upper primary school children
|
Demographic Variables |
Levels of Knowledge |
Chi
Square value |
p-Value | Results | ||||||
| Good | Moderate | Poor | ||||||||
| f | % | f | % | f | % | |||||
| 1. Age (in years) | ||||||||||
| a) 9 years | 24 | 85.7 | 4 | 14.3 | 0 | 0 | 15.785 | 0.015 | S | |
| b) 10 years | 36 | 94.7 | 2 | 5.3 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| c) 11 years | 58 | 81.7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 11.3 | ||||
| d) 12 years | 27 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2. Gender | ||||||||||
| a) Male | 73 | 82 | 9 | 10.05 | 7 | 7.9 | 7.823 | 0.02 | S | |
| b) Female | 72 | 96 | 2 | 2.7 | 1 | 1.3 | ||||
| 3. Mode of Transport | ||||||||||
| a) In school bus | 62 | 96.9 | 2 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 | 31.41 | 0 | S | |
| b) By parents dropping and picking | 48 | 96 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| c) Private vehicles | 30 | 66.7 | 7 | 15.6 | 8 | 17.8 | ||||
| d) Others | 5 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 4. Religion | ||||||||||
| a) Hindu | 116 | 86.6 | 10 | 7.5 | 8 | 6 | 3.49 | 0.478 | NS | |
| b) Muslim | 18 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| c) Christian | 11 | 81.1 | 1 | 9.1 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 5. Education status of child | ||||||||||
| a) 4th std | 21 | 95.5 | 1 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 3.7998 | 0.704 | S | |
| b) 5th std | 41 | 89.1 | 5 | 10.9 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| c) 6th std | 47 | 78.3 | 5 | 8.3 | 8 | 18.3 | ||||
| d) 7th std | 36 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 6. Living area | ||||||||||
| a) Urban | 75 | 88.2 | 3 | 3.5 | 7 | 8.2 | 19.21 | 0.004 | S | |
| b) rural | 70 | 88 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1.3 | ||||
| 7. Education status of the mother | ||||||||||
| a) primary | 29 | 93.5 | 2 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 | 6.735 | 0.034 | S | |
| b) High School | 51 | 94.4 | 3 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| c) Degree | 56 | 80 | 6 | 8.6 | 8 | 11.4 | ||||
| d) Post-graduation | 9 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 8. Education of the father | ||||||||||
| a) primary | 10 | 94.7 | 1 | 5.3 | 0 | 0 | 12.831 | 0.046 | NS | |
| b) High School | 30 | 93.8 | 2 | 6.3 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| c) Degree | 83 | 85.6 | 7 | 7.2 | 7 | 7.2 | ||||
| d) Post-graduation | 14 | 87.5 | 1 | 6.3 | 1 | 6.3 | ||||
| 9. Occupation of mother | ||||||||||
| a) Government | 41 | 95.3 | 1 | 2.3 | 1 | 2.3 | 4.028 | 0.673 | NS | |
| b) Private | 37 | 77.1 | 4 | 8.3 | 7 | 14.6 | ||||
| c) Daily wages | 11 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| d) Housewife | 56 | 90.3 | 6 | 9.7 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 10. Occupation of father | ||||||||||
| a) Government | 68 | 90.7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5.3 | 17.501 | 0.035 | S | |
| b) Private | 57 | 85.1 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 6 | ||||
| c) Self employee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| d) Daily wages | 19 | 90.5 | 2 | 9.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| c) Unemployed | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 11. Type of family | ||||||||||
| a) Joint family | 55 | 93.2 | 3 | 5.1 | 1 | 1.7 | 2.517 | 0.284 | NS | |
| b) Nuclear family | 90 | 85.7 | 8 | 7.6 | 7 | 6.7 | ||||
| 12. Monthly income of the family in rupees | ||||||||||
| a) & It 2000 | 35 | 94.6 | 2 | 5.4 | 0 | 0 | 25.761 | 0 | S | |
| b) 2000 to 30000 | 82 | 93.2 | 5 | 5.7 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| c) 30001 to 40000 | 23 | 67.6 | 4 | 11.8 | 7 | 20.6 | ||||
| d) & gt40001 | 5 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 13. Source of information | ||||||||||
| a) Teachers | 73 | 85.9 | 9 | 10.6 | 3 | 3.5 | 5.270 | 0.261 | NS | |
| b) Mass media | 43 | 89.6 | 2 | 4.2 | 3 | 6.3 | ||||
| c) Television | 29 | 93.5 | 11 | 6.7 | 8 | 4.9 | ||||
Discussion
The present study assesses the knowledge of upper primary school children aged 9–12 years regarding good touch and bad touch at a selected school in Kuppam. The demographic profile of the sample revealed that 43.2% of children were 11 years old, with the majority being boys 55.3%. A significant portion 39% of the children used school buses, and 81.7% identified as Hindus. In terms of educational status, 36.6% of the children were in 6th grade, and more than half 51.8% resided in urban areas. Regarding parental education, 59.1% of mothers had completed a degree, and 45.7% of fathers were employed in government jobs. The majority 64% of children lived in nuclear families, and 53.7% of the families had a monthly income between ₹20,001 and ₹30,000. Teachers were the primary source of information on the topic for 51.8% of the children. moderate knowledge, 8 (4.9%) of them were under poor knowledge.
The findings showed that 88.4% of the children had good knowledge about good touch and bad touch, while very less number of students had moderate knowledge and very few had poor knowledge. The study found significant associations between children’s knowledge levels and several demographic factors: age, gender, mode of transport, educational status, living area, mother’s occupation, and family income. Other variables did not show a significant impact. The study indicates that while most children possess good knowledge about appropriate and inappropriate touch, there is still a need for targeted educational interventions, especially for those with moderate or poor knowledge, to ensure a higher level of awareness and protection against abuse.
These results were similar with previous research was conducted by Keshni, et al., [8] a descriptive study was conducted to assess the knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among children (9-12years) in selected school of Ludhiana, Punjab. A Descriptive approach and purposive sampling technique was used on 100 students of S.K.S.S. International Sen. Sec. Public School Sarabha, Ludhiana, and Punjab. Data was collected by using self-structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge regarding good and bad touch.
The results showed that more than 3/4th of students were having excellent knowledge, nearly 1/4th was having good knowledge and very few were having fair knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch.
Conclusion
From this study, we have assessed the knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among upper primary school children (9 To 12Yrs) In Selected Schools At Kuppam. The present study aims to evaluate the knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch. The child approach was effective in assessing the knowledge regarding good touch and bad touch among upper primary school children. Hence there is a need to strengthen the awareness regarding the importance of teaching children about the knowledge of good touch and bad touch. It will help not only in decreasing the incidence but also in curtailing the hesitancy and bias in seeking help after the abuse.
Source of funding: None
Conflict of Interest: None
Authors’ Contributions: All authors conceived and designed the article. Wrote the full paper and checked by all the authors.
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