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A Fact Sheet about
Child Sexual Abuse
prepared by the New Hampshire Coalition
Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
Sexual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional and includes: sexual touching and fondling, exposing children to adult sexual activity or pornographic
movies and photographs, having children pose, undress, or perform in a sexual fashion on film or in person, "peeping" into bathrooms or bedroom to spy on a child, rape or attempted rape.
(Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Knoxville, TY). Child sexual abuse is the sexual exploitation of a child by an adult, adolescent, or older child. The sexual activity does not necessarily involve force;
children are often bribed or verbally coerced into sexual acts. The difference in age and sexual knowledge between a child and an older person makes informed consent to sexual activity impossible.
(Sexual Assault Facts and Statistics; Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault). Child sexual assault will affect a child in many ways. Within two years of the assault a child may experience fear, hostility,
guilt, shame, depression, low self-esteem, poor self-image, physical and sleep complaints, sexual behavior disturbances, and poor social functioning. (Downs, William R,
Developmental Considerations for the Effects of Childhood Sexual-Abuse, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, September, 1993). Twenty-nine percent (29%) of all forcible rapes in America occurred where,
the victim was less than 11 years old. (National Victim Center and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Rape in America: A Rej2ort to the Nation. 1992). Children are most commonly
sexually abused by someone they know and trust. When these acts occur within a family, the sexual abuse is called incest. Since most children seek approval from adults, they are very vulnerable to abuse. They often do
what is asked without questioning. (National Coalition Against Sexual Assault) More than two-thirds of boys, who are sexually abused, are abused by men. Eighty-three percent (83%) of victims are
under the age of 12; more than one quarter are under the age of six; 8% are abused by fathers or stepfathers. (Hunter, Mic, ed., The Sexually Abused Male, Lexington Books, 1990). Girls
who have been sexually abused become pregnant in adolescence at a significantly higher rate than those who have not. More than one-tenth report that their pregnancy is the result of sexual abuse. (Ounce
of Prevention Fund. Child Sexual Abuse: A Hidden Factor in Adolescent Sexual Behavior. Springfield, IL, 1987). In 68% of the cases in a study conducted at Tufts University New England Medical Center, the
offender coerced the child to comply either through threats or actual physical aggression. Parents were as likely as any other group of offenders to use violence. (Gomes-Swartz, Beverly, Horowitz,
Jonathan M. and Cardarelli, Albert P, Child Sexual Abuse: The Effiect Sage Publications, Inc., 1990). Approximately one third of all juvenile victims of sexual abuse cases are children younger than
six years of age.(Violence and the Family, Report of the American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence and Family,1996). Children are
often groomed for sexual assault. The grooming process includes building trust, bestowing favors, alienating others, demanding service and violating boundaries. (Hotrod, Anne L; Johnson, Barry L;
Roundly, Lynn M; and Williams, Doreen. The Incest Perpetrator . Sage Publications, Inc., 1990). The 14 member groups of the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence assist survivors of
sexual assault, and domestic violence, and members of their families, with 24-hour crisis lines, emergency shelter, counseling, support groups and help dealing with police, medical and court personnel. The programs
provide speakers and educational programs to community groups. In 1997, Coalition groups assisted 1,073 sexual assault survivors. Printing financed by the
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Health Management. The 14 member groups of the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence assist survivors of sexual assault, and domestic violence, and- members of their families, with 24-hour crisis lines, emergency shelter, counseling, support groups and help dealing with police, medical and court personnel. The programs provide speakers and educational programs to community groups. In 1997, Coalition groups assisted 1,073 sexual assault survivors. They helped hundreds of women obtain restraining orders against their abusers. |
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