Boys more vulnerable to sexual abuse than girls, say psychologists

EXPERTS SAID THAT OUT OF EVERY FOUR CASES OF CHILDREN BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED, THREE OF THE VICTIMS WERE BOYS

GURGAON:Parents should be careful of strangers who are overtly friendly and helpful to their children, warned psychologists after the murder of an eight-year-old at Ryan International School, Bhondsi on Friday.

The boy was found outside a school toilet on the ground floor, crawling and bleeding profusely before he died. Gurgaon Police later arrested a 42-year-old bus conductor, idetified as Ashok Kumar, for the crime.

Police later said that the accused had confessed that he attempted to sexual assault the child before killing him.

Experts warned that people who appeared to be overtly friendly to children often turned out to be psychopaths.

Doctors also said that out of every four cases of children being sexually abused, three of the victims were boys.

“Boys are more vulnerable to sexual abuse than girls as parents do not make boys aware regarding different types of touches,” said Jyoti Madan, senior consultant, psychiatry & psychotherapy, Paras hospitals.

Psychologists were also of the opinion that the accused in the Ryan International case clearly had a pathological mind and such people were difficult to identity unless they are caught in the act.

Such people, experts said, suffered from Paedophilia disorder, a condition where a person is attracted sexually to prepubescent children.

Samir Parikh, director, department of Mental Health & Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare, said, “People who abuse children sexually lack remorse and are difficult to identify as they do not show any physical and behavioural issues.”

Doctors also maintained that in most child abuse cases, usually the accused is known to the victim. Experts said that these cases can be reduced by making the children aware about good touch and bad touch.

Brahmdeep Sindhu, senior psychiatrist, Civil Hospital, Gurgaon said, “These cases are increasing because our society is losing attachment and trust.”

The psychologists also said that people suffering from Paedophilia disorder though aware of their condition, however, do not opt for treatment because of social stigmas associated with mental diseases.