UNDERSTANDING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: PATTERNS AND PREVALENCE IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ATTENDEES AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTER
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Keywords
Child Sexual Abuse, Facial Bruises, Genital Discharge, Prevalence, Pattern
Abstract
Background: The child sexual abuse is an extremely serious issue which has very long lasting negative consequences for many people all over the globe.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and patterns of child sexual abuse among pediatric patients.
Methods: Design of study was cross-sectional. Study was conducted at Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Sheikh Zayed Medical College Rahim Yar Khan from March 2021 to March 2022. Total 92 children ≤ 18 years presenting to the emergency department, with cases either suspected or confirmed of child sexual abuse (CSA) as documented in medical records. These cases which were encompassed any form of sexual activity involving a child. Collected data were processed and analyzed using IBM SPSS, version 27.0.
Results: The characteristics of the perpetrators revealed that neighbors constituted the largest percentage (52, 56.5%) of the offenders, followed by strangers (27, 29.3%), friends (8, 8.7%), family members (2, 2.2%), and teachers (3, 3.3%). Regarding the nature of sexual abuse, contact penetrative abuse was predominant (59, 64.1%), of which vaginal penetration being the most common form (48, 52.2%), followed by anal penetration (6, 6.5%) and orogenital contact (5, 5.4%). Contact non-penetrative abuse accounted for 28 (30.4%) cases, with genital contact without penetration (13, 14.1%) and extra-vaginal fondling (15, 16.3%) being the primary forms reported. Non-contact non-penetrative exhibitionism constituted 5 (5.4%) cases.
Conclusion: In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and patterns of child sexual abuse among children. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive prevention strategies, early detection protocols, and multidisciplinary support services to address the complex needs of sexually abused children and mitigate the long-term consequences of their trauma.
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Mashooque Ali
Associate Professor Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Army Medical College Rawalpindi
Ummara Munir
Associate Professor Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Sheikh Zayed Medical College Rahim Yar Khan
Syed Perwez Alam
Associate Professor & HoD Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry Karachi
Shahla Imran
Assistant professor Department of Forensic medicine and Toxicology, Bilawal medical college LUMHS Jamshoro
Nasim Irshad
Assistant professor Army Medical College forensic medicine department, Rawalpindi
Abdul Samad
Associate Professor Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro