Abstract This study explores the factors contributing to Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and the proliferation of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Materials (CSEAM) in Quezon City and Manila, two highly urbanized cities in the Philippines. Framed within a public health perspective, the research employs a mixed-methods approach to gather data from 100 participants, combining qualitative insights with quantitative analysis. Key factors identified include widespread English literacy, ubiquitous access to technology, robust financial infrastructure, and social norms that fail to adequately address online exploitation. Quantitative data, analyzed through one-sample t-tests, reveal strong consensus on several key issues: economic hardship and inadequate social safety nets (mean score = 4.48), insufficient government initiatives (mean score = 4.50), gaps in legal regulations (mean score = 4.52), and limited local child protection measures (mean score = 4.57). Focus group discussions highlight concerns about family dynamics, with respondents emphasizing the role of family cohesiveness (mean score = 4.54) in influencing children's vulnerability to exploitation. Using Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, the study underscores the complex, multi-layered context of OSAEC and calls for integrated, cross-sectoral approaches that address both the root causes of exploitation and strengthen victim support systems. The findings stress the urgent need for improved education, community-level awareness, and stronger policy frameworks to protect children from online sexual exploitation, advocating for a holistic, proactive response involving children, families, and communities
Ma. Josephine Therese Emily Galicinao Teves (Tue,) studied this question.