Eficacia de la intervención educativa en conocimientos sobre curiosidad sexual a los padres de los niños de 3 a 5 años de los CEMDI

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research, based on educational intervention workshops, took place during the months of April and May, 2011. The sample consisted of 290 parents of children between 3 and 5 years old, who attended the CEMDIs in Cuenca Ecuador. This research was conducted considering that these parents needed to learn about the sexual curiosity that arouses at this age, in order to satisfy the necessities of their children.

The investigation began with the implementation of a "Pre-test" form, followed by the development and execution of the educational intervention. The intervention consisted of 27 workshops dedicated to 290 parents of children between 3 and 5 years old from the CEMDIs. In order to accomplish this, three 90 minute workshops were dictated for each of the nine CEMDIs.

At the end of the workshops a "Post-test" form was applied to the parents of children between 3 to 5 years old from the CEMDIs. The form, which was related to the sexual curiosity of children, allowed us to systematize and analyze the results. In this sense, we were able to assess the effectiveness of the intervention that was carried out.

The research evidenced that most of the population practice Catholicism, are married, live in urban areas and have a higher educational level.

The highest percentage of parents who participated in the research were between 25 and 35 years old. Moreover, the highest percentage of participants was represented by married catholic women, living in urban areas and with secondary instruction.

The parents had no knowledge on the subject of sexual curiosity of children. Particularly, on issues such as: sex games, childhood masturbation, FAQs, erection, development of children and family communication. After the intervention, the parents were able to reach a 70% of the knowledge and their doubts were cleared. Also, they were able to visualize their children´s sexuality in a healthy way, without taboos or prejudice and as part of the comprehensive development of children.

The methodology that was employed allowed us to work together in a participative, dynamic, experiential, critical and constructive way. Thus, using meaningful visual material that contained clear and explicit language. As a result, we achieved a 70% of effective intervention.

Keywords Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Sex Education; Sexuality- psychology; Congresses as Topic-utilization; Parents-education; Parent-Child Relations.; Child Day Care Centers; Cuenca-Ecuador