The value of paediatric assessment in historic child sexual abuse

2017 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 550-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Al-Jilaihawi ◽  
Kevin Borg ◽  
Sabine Maguire ◽  
Deborah Hodes
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Unmet Health Needs ◽  
Broad Variety ◽  
Prepubertal Girls ◽  
Case Note Review

IntroductionA perception exists that there are few benefits of a paediatric assessment in historic child sexual abuse (CSA), as the likelihood of finding forensic evidence is low.AimTo determine the value of a comprehensive paediatric assessment in a dedicated clinic for children and young people who present following suspicion or allegation of historic CSA.MethodAll children with suspected or alleged historic CSA, defined as >7 days after the last episode of sexual assault in pubertal girls, or >3 days for prepubertal girls and all boys, were assessed in a specialised paediatric clinic. Clinic data were collected prospectively between October 2009 and November 2014 and through retrospective case note review.ResultsAmong the 249 children who presented with possible historic CSA, ages ranged from 0 to 17 years (median 7, SD 4.3). Of these children, 141 (57%) had a medical concern(s) related to the referral reason, 78 (31%) had an unrelated medical concern(s) and 55 (22%) had emotional or behavioural concerns requiring onward referral, while 18 (7%) children had physical signs supportive of CSA. Findings referable to social care were identified in 26 cases (10%), the police in 6 cases and 15 (6%) parents required professional help for anxiety symptoms.ConclusionsThis study highlights the value of a comprehensive paediatric assessment in a dedicated clinic for cases of suspected or alleged historic CSA, by identifying a broad variety of unmet health needs in this group. The findings have important implications for the child, their families and the multiagency team.

Exposure to sexual harm is now a ‘normal part’ of life

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 486-487
Author(s):  
Pete Henshaw
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Young People ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Normal Part ◽  
Independent Inquiry

Children and young people are coming to accept that exposure to online sexual harm and receiving and being asked for explicit images is now a part of everyday life. Pete Henshaw takes a look at the latest report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Forensic Evidence in Child Sexual Abuse

2019 ◽  
pp. 171-196
Author(s):  
Vincent J. Palusci ◽  
Cindy W. Christian
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Forensic Evidence

Child Sexual Abuse in Singapore with Special Reference to Medico-Legal Implications: A review of 38 cases

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cai Yiming ◽  
Daniel Fung
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Case Review ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Repressed Memories ◽  
Child Guidance ◽  
Legal Implications ◽  
Court Proceedings ◽  
Repeated Questioning

There is a paucity of studies on child sexual abuse in Asia. This study reviews the trends of child sexual abuse in Singapore and discusses the medico-legal considerations in the identification, assessment and management (including forensic implications) of such cases. It is a retrospective case review of 38 consecutive cases of child sexual abuse seen at a child guidance clinic in Singapore. Our study showed that most of the children were young (74% below age 9) and female (78.9%) with perpetrators who are males and usually known to the victims. There is a need to have integrated protocols to streamline assessment and reduce the need for repeated questioning. Adequate support of the victims in the form of specialised handling during the Court proceedings and in the use of new technology (such as video conferencing) for obtaining the child's testimony may be necessary. A child's fitness to testify is determined by the credibility and competence of the child. Repressed memories are of questionable validity.

Safeguarding Capabilities in Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: Exploratory Factor Analysis of a Scale Measuring Safeguarding Capabilities in Youth-Serving Organizations Workers

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Russell ◽  
Daryl Higgins
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽  
Item Pool ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Underlying Factor ◽  
Policies And Procedures ◽  
Media Reports ◽  
Reliability Coefficients

Media reports and government enquiries have shone a spotlight on institutional child sexual abuse (CSA) globally. With youth-serving organizations seeking to identify how to improve policies and procedures developed to protect children, a gap exists in research and organizational quality assurance procedures. A new tool is needed to measure the capability of workers to implement and support effective child-safeguarding policies and practices. To address this, our aim was to develop the Safeguarding Capabilities in Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Scale. Participants ( n = 345) from a range of youth-serving sectors in Australia answered 128 questions. Using exploratory factor analysis to assess the underlying factor structure and refine the item pool, items loaded onto four factors. Reliability coefficients ranged from .68 to .95. Results showed that knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy to take action, and awareness are all key capabilities related to creating conditions of safety for children and young people and preventing CSA in youth-serving organizations.

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