Sexual violence against children and vulnerability

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the demographic and epidemiological profile of children and adolescents victims of sexual violence treated in a Unit of Forensic Medicine and the relationship between victims and perpetrators. Methods: A descriptive study, with data collection from information gathered from sex abuse reports performed in 2009 on victims of sexual violence aged less than 18 years. The data collection tool was a form filled out with demographic information about the victim -gender and age -and information regarding the sexual violence -, location of the occurrence, time elapsed between abuse and expert report, complaints reported, sexological examination findings, description of lesions outside the genital region, and aggressor's relationship to victim. Results: In 2009, 421 individuals victim of sexual violence were assisted. Of those, 379 (90%) were younger than 18 years, and 66 cases were excluded from these reports. Most were female (81.2%). The most affected age group was 10 to 13 years old (36.7%), followed by 5 to 9 year-olds (30.7%). In most cases (86.3%), there were family or friendship ties between victims and perpetrators, being most frequently accused an acquaintance or friend of the family (42.3%), followed by the stepfather (16.6%) and the father (10.9%). Conclusion:The results are similar to other studies conducted in the country. This work aims at filling a gap caused by the lack of research on this topic in the State, hoping to collaborate to improve public policies against child sexual abuse.Uniterms: Sexual violence; child and adolescent protection; crime victims.

Características de los menores de 12 años con examen médico forense por sospecha de abuso sexual en Salvador, Brasil

“…Entre los agresores que no poseían vínculo de parentesco con el menor, la proporción de desconocidos fue del 8,8% (92) lo que refuerza los datos ya referidos en la literatura de que los familiares y amigos de la familia son la mayor fuente de abuso sexual infantil 12,17 .…”

Perfil das notificações sobre violência sexual

“…13,16 Research reveals that the fear of dissociation of the family, in case the fact is discovered, the disrepute as to the victim's speech, as well as the blame for the abuse constitute as factors that contribute to the non-verbalization of what happened to third parties, often culminating in underreporting of cases, even with the high prevalence of sexual violence. 15 As for the characteristics of the violence, most of the cases occurred at the victim's or the aggressor's home, that is, with a high possibility of involving the relatives or persons known as aggressors in cases of sexual violence. 13 He found in a nationwide survey of children and adolescents victims of sexual violence, that 14% of the cases occurred in the victim's home environment.…”

Caracterização do perfil da violência sexual em crianças e adolescentes no Rio Grande do Sul

“…Outro estudo aponta que a maior prevalência ocorre em adolescentes em idade reprodutiva e de classe média baixa. [13][14][15][16] Na Ásia e Oceano pacífico, autores conduziram uma metanálise para estimar a prevalência, incidência e consequências da violência sexual contra crianças e adolescentes, e os dados mostraram que as crianças violentadas apresentavam maior risco para desenvolver doenças físicas e mentais, ideias suicidas, além de se tornarem prováveis agressores no futuro. Inúmeras pesquisas relacionadas à prevalência, de violência sexual, ocorrem na África, ou países subjacentes e demais países subdesenvolvidos, devido ao fato de que a incidência é maior em mulheres, de classe econômica inferior, onde a vulnerabilidade é maior, tanto em ambiente escolar ou com meninas que são órfãs e moradoras de rua.…”