Medical Evaluation of Suspected Child Sexual Abuse

Factors associated with child sexual abuse confirmation at forensic examinations

“…This finding appears to support the hypothesis published in the literature 12 that smaller children may report friction or attempted penetration beyond the labia majora up to the vulvar vestibule as vaginal penetration because they lack any reference on which to base their experiences. Therefore, reports of penetration in older children may perhaps be more closely associated with actual penetration compared to reports from younger children.…”

Analysis of 756 cases of sexual assault in Tours (France): medico-legal findings and judicial outcomes

“…Colposcopy is not generally used during the ano-genital examination at the CVSA of Tours. If this procedure were used, we might be surprised to find a greater number of lesions, as has been suggested in the literature (Jones et al, 2004;Adams, 2004).…”

The timing of medical examination following an allegation of sexual abuse: is this an emergency?

“…The area covered is predominantly urban with pockets of high deprivation (Jarman score of 3.3; the overall Wales score is –0.08). The audit considered the proportion of children with abnormal anogenital findings considered diagnostic of abuse 3. Comparisons were made between those children presenting within 7 days of the alleged abusive episode with those who presented after 7 days.…”

“…The examination was considered to have medical findings diagnostic or indeterminate of trauma and/or sexual contact as per Adam’s classification 3. Adam’s classification was used because it gave specific guidance in the interpretation of findings and was based on current research at the time of its publication.…”