CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH
WHAT IS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE?
- Child Sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for Sexual stimulation.
- Victims are both male and female
- Age Group (0 – 18)
- Crosses all Socio-Economic and Ethnic Groups
- Child Marriage (is most prevalent form of sexual abuse and exploitation of girls).
- Incest (sexual abuse by a family member) can have more serious and long term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest).
(A child can not consent to any form of sexual activity… )
FORMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE INCLUDE:
- Engaging in sexual activities with a child
- Indecent exposure of genitals, female nipples, etc.
- Child grooming
- Using a child to produce pornography
- Fondling
- Obscene phone calls and text messages
- Sex trafficking
FACTS ABOUT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE:
- The global prevalence of child sexual abuse has been estimated at 19.7 for females and 7.9% for males.
- Most sexual abuse offenders know their victims and are acquainted in some way. Approximately 30% are relatives of the child. Most often brothers, fathers, uncles or cousins.
- About 60% are other acquaintances such as friends of the family, babysitters, or neighbors, strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse case.
- At least 93% of victims under the age of 18 have known their abuser.
- Most child sexual abuse is committed by men.
- Studies indicate that 14% to 40% of offenses reported against boys and 6% of offenses reported against girls.
- Studies indicate that 14% to 40% of women commit offenses reported against boys and 6% of offenses reported against girls.
Child Sexual Abuse can occur in different settings including:
- Child’s home
- Child’s school
- Where the child works
- Where the child worships
- Friend’s home
Presented by Angela Lamb-Onayiga
Manager of Child Protection Services, Hennepin County Department of Social Services, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
This presentation was made at Delightsome Lands seminar, which took place at Ogba, Lagos, Nigeria, on Saturday, 30 June, 2018.
To be continued.