CHILD ABUSE FACTS

• Disclosure of child sexual abuse is a process. It is estimated that only one in ten child victims disclose abuse.

• One in three girls and one in five boys will be sexually assaulted before they reach the age of 18.

• Perpetrators often consist of family members, friends, and acquaintances. 95% of all victims know their perpetrators.

• There are a large percentage of children who do not disclose abuse until adulthood, if ever at all.

• Some consequences of child sexual abuse include fear, loneliness, self-blame, poor self-esteem, anger, and mental health issues

WHAT IS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE?

Q: What is sexual abuse?

A: Sexual abuse occurs when someone forces, coerces, or tricks a child into sexual contact or acts intended for the sexual gratification of that person. Sexual abuse may involve:

• Touching the child’s private parts or making the child touch the offender
• Oral/genital contact
• Vaginal or anal penetration with a penis, finger or object
• Coerced sexual acts between children
• Making children view or participate in pornography
• Indecent exposure or "flashing"

Q: What are identifying symptoms of sexual abuse?

A: Physical and behavioral indicators of a victim of a sexual abuse/assault are listed below. Please realize these are only indicators and are not necessarily evidence of abuse.

Physical Indicators:

• Difficulty in walking, sitting, coordination
• Genital or anal injury (swollen, bleeding)
• Urinating or defecating in clothing (inability to control)
• Venereal disease
• Genital pain and itching
• Change in neatness of appearance
• Gaining weight (wearing loose fitting clothes so as not to draw attention to the body)
• Compulsive masturbation
• Loss of appetite or sudden increase in appetite (and other more serious eating disorders such as anorexia)
• Altered sleep patterns (bedwetting, restlessness, nightmares, fear of sleeping alone, needing a night light, being tired all the time)
• Newly acquired bodily complaints, especially stomach aches
• Odor (is not taking care of personal hygiene)

Behavioral and Attitude Indicators:

• Extreme shifts of emotions/moods
• Fears and phobias especially aimed at one person or location
• Suddenly turning against someone, such as a parent
• Restlessness
• Acting adult-like, inconsistent with age
• Acting child-like, regression
• Frequent absences from school
• Daydreaming, having learning problems
• Irritability, short tempered
• Asking questions or having knowledge of terminology, inappropriate for age
• Expression affection to adults in inappropriate ways
• Not willing to undress for PE at school
• Hostility and aggressiveness towards adults or overly trying to please adults
• Afraid to be alone with adults
• Isolation, withdrawal
• Few friends
• Shying away from being touched
• Having low self esteem and self image
• Excessive curiosity about sexual matters
• Precocious sexual play
• Verbal descriptions of sexual matters