Description

Introduction

The growing body of literature and research on child sexual abuse that we have witnessed in the latter part of this century was kindled primarily by adult women speaking out about their childhood experiences of sexual abuse. Despite significant numbers of documented cases and psychiatric discourse at the end of the 19th century about child sexual abuse, the issue was spoken about as a rare problem. The ‘Battered baby syndrome’ identified in the 1960’s by Kemp drew attention to the issue of child physical abuse The Women’s Movement in the 1970s lobbied to place the issue of child sexual abuse on the social, health and political agenda. Retrospective studies of adults sexually abused as children revealed that 1:3-5 women have experienced sexual abuse in childhood. These findings are well documented and has opened the door to a growing awareness that child sexual abuse is a significant problem affecting the lives of 1: 3-5 girls and generally about 1:6-7 boys by the age of 18 years . In approximately 90% of cases, the offender is either a member of the child’s family or is well known to the child and family.


Key points

Kemp’s definition of ‘Battered baby syndrome’ in the 1960’s drew attention to child abuse and in the 1970s there was public awareness about child sexual abuse.
1 in 3-5 women and 1 in 6-7 men have experienced sexual abuse in childhood.
In 9 of 10 cases the offender is known to child and family.

Definition


Though the laws on child sexual abuse vary in different jurisdictions, child sexual abuse is a crime, which occurs when an adult or older person uses his/her power, authority or position to impose upon a child any sexual activity.

Features of child sexual abuse may include the following:

physical or psychological coercion which differentiates such abuse from consensual peer sexual activity ( Child Protection council 1997)
the dependency and immaturity of children is exploited by adults and adolescents who perpetrate child sexual abuse.
the sexual activity may include sexual touching, masturbation ,sexual penetration, and non contact sexual acts such as exposing a child to pornographic material , exhibitionism and voyeurism.
The child is coerced to keep the sexual activity secret in order to prevent disclosure
Offenders commonly employ tactics to make the child feel responsible for the sexual activity

Key points

Child sexual abuse is a crime irrespective in all jurisdictions.

Nature of child sexual abuse

B Prepubertal

sexual gratification of the adult by the use of the child’s body
commonly begins with touching of the genital area, making the child touch the adult’s genitals and may eventually progress to partial or full penetration
commonly occurs over long period of time
the offender commonly employs a range of tactics to engage a child and involve the child in sexual activity e.g. favouritism, bribery, tricks, threats, coercion
child sexual abuse does not commonly present with concurrent physical violence
majority of offenders are a member of the child’s family or are known to the child and its family
disclosure rarely occurs following a single incident, unless the offender is a stranger

Postpubertal

may be continuation of prepubertal abuse with increasing level of severity
coercion may also involve the use of drugs, alcohol and peer pressure
may resemble adult rape involving a single episode with an assailant of similar age to the victim
commonly involves full penetration
may involve violence

Key areas of consideration in managing a report of child sexual abuse

Child protection and welfare considerations

Safety of the child from further sexual abuse is of the highest priority. Notification to statutory authority vested with the legal responsibility of ensuring the safety of children, to investigate the report is necessary to ensure the protection and safety of the child.


Legal considerations

Child sexual abuse i