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Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is widespread and pervasive in Pakistan, presenting a significant threat to a child's physical health, psychological well-being, and overall development. This study aimed to empirically substantiate the understanding of parents regarding CSA and their utilized preventive strategies. The study utilized Social Ecological Theory to gain a deeper comprehension of the phenomenon. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 18 parents from Islamabad capital city, using a qualitative phenomenological research approach along with thematic analysis. Results reveal that most of the parents were highly aware of the most common aspects of sexual assault and molestation, but they were unaware of the more manipulative subtle forms such as "grooming." Additionally, they had a limited understanding of the long-term consequences of sexual abuse. While many parents knew about the option of involving the police in cases of abuse, they were unaware of helpline services and the availability of psychological support. In terms of prevention, most parents employed an integrated approach involving various preventive measures, such as educating their children about appropriate and inappropriate touch. These findings underscore the importance of implementing public-focused initiatives and community-based programs to enhance parental awareness, knowledge, and capabilities in preventing CSA in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farmers in Pakistan are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis as their livelihoods have been disrupted due to a countrywide lockdown. This crosssectional study was conducted over the duration of two months, April and May 2020, with the aim to assess awareness of smallholder farmers regarding COVID-19, their challenges, and attitude towards governments’ lockdown strategies in Pakistan. The sample was composed of 384 cotton-wheat smallholder farmers from 1,403 villages of Bahawalnagar, Layyah, and Toba Tek Singh districts of Punjab province. Due to travel restrictions, a telephonic survey was conducted, and data were collected through a semi-structured interview schedule. The instrument contained both open and closed-ended questions and Likert scale items. Results revealed that the vast majority of the smallholder farmers was highly aware of the coronavirus disease, and they had positive attitudes towards the government lockdown strategies. However, some farmers were also facing great challenges in access to farm inputs, unavailability of farm laborers, high prices, and selling their farm produce in the market due to lockdown, which resulted in a drop of their crop incomes and lower food consumption. There remains a dire need to support them in the current crisis and address their challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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