Avaliação de livros infantis de abordagem preventiva contra o abuso sexual

Abstract

Child sexual abuse is one of the most significant public health problems worldwide, due to both its high prevalence and underreporting. There are forms of abuse both with and without physical contact, such as sexual exploitation, voyeurism, pornography, exhibitionism, and sexual acts with or without penetration. Most cases involve perpetrators who are part of the victim's immediate environment. This situation motivates studies aimed at preventing child sexual abuse. Among the methods used in prevention programs are children's books that address the issue and teach self-protection skills to children. This is a descriptive theoretical study that evaluates 5 Brazilian books published between 2014 and 2024, focusing on prevention. The evaluation was conducted using an instrument that incorporates criteria from international literature. The research identified 3 works with potential for prevention and 2 others with a low level of compliance with the established criteria. There is a need for empirical research to evaluate these titles in intervention contexts with children, as well as studies that assess guides and support materials for parents and teachers.