Introduction: Child sexual abuse is a crisis in South Africa, with 45% of reported sexual offence cases involving child victims. Parents are in a position to deliver prevention education from an early age, yet they often lack the confidence, knowledge, and resources to do so effectively, particularly during the early childhood period (ages 2-6).
Purpose: This study aimed to explore South African parents' perspectives and experiences of child sexual abuse prevention education to identify the support and intervention requirements to empower them in this role.
Method: A qualitative research design was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 South African parents of children aged 2 to 6 years. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify gaps and intervention needs.
Results: The analysis identified three thematic areas: 1) Awareness gaps: Parental narratives showed a need for interventions that challenge misconceptions, including the exclusive vulnerability of girls the sole threat of adult male perpetrators, and increase awareness of child-on-child abuse; 2) Practical implementation barriers: Parents struggled with age-appropriate communication, and lacked usable resources; 3) The need for collaboration: Parents expressed a desire for collective prevention effort, but emphasised the need for controlled, pre-approved, and accredited school-based programs without conflicting with familial values.
Conclusion: The findings suggest a need for holistic intervention development. These should include targeted parental psychoeducation to address myths, the creation of accessible and practical resources for early childhood, programs specifically designed to engage fathers, and the establishment of trusted, collaborative partnerships between parents and schools. Empowering parents through these tailored interventions is important for enhancing child sexual abuse prevention efforts in South Africa.