Child sexual abuse needs prompt attention

KUDZAI Marwari, marketing and fund-raising manager for Childline South Africa, tackles the almost-taboo subject of child sex abuse. SOUTH Africa has a high rate of sexual abuse perpetrated against children.

Of all the forms of child abuse, perhaps the most difficult one for people to face is sexual abuse.

This is because sexual relations with children, including incest, have been taboo topics in our society for generations.

South African findings suggest that one in five girls and boys will have been sexually abused by the time he or she turns 18.

Sexual abuse involves any sexual contact with a minor child, from exhibitionism to intercourse or the use of a child for sexual pleasure. Sexual abuse encompasses:

An adult showing a child his or her genitals.

An adult touching a child’s genitals or having a child touch his or her genitals, or forcing the child to touch the child’s own genitals while the adult watches.

Oral (mouth) genital contact.

Forcing a child to masturbate.

The adult using his or her hand to penetrate the child.

Sexual intercourse with a child.

The use of a child in the production of pornographic material.

Forcing a child to watch pornographic material.

Voyeurism (spying on a changing or bathing child.)

Incest, which is sexual abuse that occurs between a child and parent or stepparents, extended family member or surrogate parent figure.

Contrary to popular belief, most sexual abuse (80 percent) appears to be committed by parents, relatives and family friends and only 20 percent by people who are strangers to a victim.

Children are often unable to put in words that they have been sexually abused or that they have successfully resisted an assault.

Several reasons can cause hesitation or make them fear telling what has happened, including a child’s relationship with the offender, fear of consequences or retaliation, shame, or uncertainty about whether they will be believed.

While small children, even infants, can be the victims of sexual abuse, the most common age of abuse is pre-adolescent.

The vast majority of offenders are males, which could include the victim’s biological parent or the mother’s spouse or boyfriend.

In some cases, sexual abuse will have carried on for many years and can have involved more than one child in the family – and may even involve more than one offender.

However, girls and women can also commit sexual offences.

One should also be alert to the fact that children may behave in a sexually inappropriate or aggressive way.

This behaviour should never be ignored by a parent, caregiver or educator.

The child should be corrected and if the behaviour persists the child should be referred for the appropriate intervention.

It is vital that a child’s disclosure of sexual abuse be taken seriously and handled with sensitivity at all times.

Negative reactions, including expressions of horror, disbelief or blame can be just as damaging to a child as the act itself.