The pedagogical preparation of lower secondary school teachers for the educational prevention of sexual abuse in adolescents in the Cuban context
Keywords:
Sexual abuse, educational prevention, adolescence, teacher pedagogical training, secondary education.Abstract
This study analyzes the pedagogical preparation of secondary school teachers for the educational prevention of sexual abuse in adolescents in the Cuban context, specifically in the city of Cárdenas, Matanzas. It is based on a qualitative approach with a diagnostic–analytical design, drawing from the analysis of normative documents and teacher training programs, complemented by surveys and interviews with teachers. The results reveal regularities associated with shortcomings in pedagogical training, professional insecurity in addressing the issue, and weaknesses in the articulation between school, family, and community. Evidence shows that the prevention of sexual abuse is not systematically integrated into the educational process, which limits its formative scope. In this regard, the need to strengthen teacher preparation from a comprehensive pedagogical perspective is recognized, one that fosters the development of protective skills and the construction of safe school environments.
References
Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A., Turner, H., & Hamby, S. (2020). Prevalence of childhood exposure to violence, crime, and abuse. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(6), 601–609. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2761631
Hillis, S. D., Mercy, J. A., Amobi, A., & Kress, H. (2020). Global prevalence of past-year violence against children: A systematic review and minimum estimates. Pediatrics, 146(1), e20200125. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-0125
Leach, F., Dunne, M., & Salvi, F. (2021). School-related gender-based violence: A global review of current issues and approaches. Comparative Education, 57(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/03050068.2020.1865054
Livingstone, S., Stoilova, M., & Kelly, A. (2021). The outcomes of online risks for children: A review of evidence. EU Kids Online. https://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/assets/documents/research/eu-kids-online/reports/The-outcomes-of-online-risks-for-children.pdf
Martínez, M., Rodríguez, L., & Herrera, S. (2021). Formación docente y prevención del abuso sexual infantil en contextos escolares. Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud, 19(2), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.11600/1692715x.19205
Meinck, F., Steinert, J. I., Sethi, D., Gilbert, R., Bellis, M., Mikton, C., & Baban, A. (2022). Measuring and monitoring violence against children: A systematic review. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 100(2), 103–115. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/BLT.21.287324
Meléndez-Reyes, V., & Nájera-Saldaña, J. A. (2024). Programas de prevención del abuso sexual infantil: Revisión teórica. Ciencias Administrativas: Teoría y Praxis, 20(2), 123–138. https://doi.org/10.46443/catyp.v20i2.391
Organización Mundial de la Salud. (2023). INSPIRE: Seven strategies for ending violence against children. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565356
Pérez, I. M., & López, R. (2022). Retos de la formación docente para la prevención de la violencia sexual en la escuela cubana. Educación y Sociedad, 20(3), 45–59. https://revistas.umcc.cu/index.php/educacionsociedad
Pulido-Guerrero, E. G., Jiménez-Ariza, L. M., & Ramírez-Durán, J. I. (2025). Efectividad de una intervención escolar para la prevención del abuso sexual infantil. Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud, 23(1), 175-195. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?pid=S1692-715X2025000100175&script=sci_arttext
Ramírez, A., Torres, D., & Molina, P. (2023). Educación sexual integral y prevención del abuso sexual en adolescentes: Evidencias desde el contexto escolar. Educación XX1, 26(1), 89–108. https://doi.org/10.5944/educxx1.33012
Save the Children. (2020). Protecting children from sexual violence: A global perspective. https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net
UNESCO. (2021). International technical guidance on sexuality education: An evidence-informed approach. https://www.unesco.org/en/education/sexuality-education
UNESCO. (2024). Safe and supportive learning environments: Global guidance for schools. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/safe-and-supportive-learning-environments
UNICEF. (2023). Protección integral de la infancia y la adolescencia. https://www.unicef.org
UNICEF, & UNESCO. (2022). Ending violence in schools: An agenda for action. https://www.unicef.org/documents/ending-violence-school
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Katia Robledo Querol, Ismary Lara Espina, Inés María Pérez Benítez, Carlos Rafael Molina Hernández
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
CC Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObrasDerivadas 4.0
.jpg)
![](https://clustrmaps.com/site/1bhn8" title="Visit tracker"><img src="//www.clustrmaps.com/map_v2.png?d=2WTJsN7QOuRFRD2DOJOZtvZ6v94bxB6RU96I-iXx-_s&cl=ffffff"></a>)
