Parents should immediately contact the police if they believe someone has sexually abused their children, an academic said here on Monday.

Khalid Al-Ragas, associate professor in the Psychology Department of the Education Faculty at King Saud University, was speaking at a national sexual abuse awareness campaign.

The Ministry of Health organized the program to coincide with the beginning of the school semester. It aims to educate parents and teachers on how to prevent sexual abuse of children.

Al-Ragas said parents must inform the authorities because then action can be taken to identify and arrest the culprits. He said parents are often reluctant to report these incidents because they fear being stigmatized by their communities.

He said abused children can display a variety of emotional and physical symptoms including constant fear, refusing to go to a particular place or meet a certain person, not wanting to sleep alone, frequent nightmares, nighttime urination, running away from home, and abnormal verbal expressions.

“Physical reactions include walking or sitting with difficulty, minor injuries on parts of the body and blood-stained underwear,” he said.

He said children must be taught basic sex education to become aware of the dangers posed by offenders. Parents should also advise their children not to kiss, hug or travel alone with strangers in vehicles.

The program was conducted by the ministry’s national center for media and health promotion. It hosts health specialists providing advice on sexual abuse. Members of the public can contact the officials on the toll free number 8002494444 between 1 and 3 p.m. on weekdays or on Twitter@saudimoh.