Pattern of sexual behavior in a community sample of Egyptian Children

الملخص EN

This study describes the sexual behaviour of 6- to 12-year-old Egyptian children without known histories of sexual abuse and explores the relation of this behaviour to gender and age.

Primary caregivers were recruited from a public schools, clubs and orphanages and administered a self designed Child Sexual Behaviour questionnaire, a parental report measure that assesses a broad range of childhood sexual behaviours.

Data were collected on 106 Egyptian children.

Results indicate that Egyptian children display a broad range of sexual behaviours that were not reported to frequently occur.

Sexual behaviours that involved requesting, planning, or forcing other children or adults into sexual activity were not reported.

The range of sexual behaviours observed and reported for girls were narrower in comparison to boys.

No significant differences were found between frequency levels of sexual behaviours observed and reported for children of different ages.

Analysis of the behavioural differences found between children of different ages indicates the emergence of a marked interest in sexuality as Egyptian children approached puberty.