PREVENTING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Rohingya Medics Organisation

PREVENTING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Child abuse is a serious psychological and social concern and is common worldwide. Child abuse occurs in all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment and merciless exploitation resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health (psychological, emotional, and mental), safety, survival, development, and dignity in context of the relationship of responsibility to oneself and others, inter-relationships, social norms, trust, and commitment.

Sexual abuse in children is a hideous criminal offence and this form of child abuse includes sexual relationship with a minor. Sexual abuse in children does not need to include physical contact between a perpetrator and a child. Sexual abuse among children is not always easy to identify or establish as fear is instilled in the victims of grave consequences. The perpetrator could be someone you have known a long time and trust, which may make it even harder to come into notice. As many as 93 % of victims under the age of 18 know the abuser. Physical signs can be bleeding or swelling in genital/perineal areas; bloody, torn, or stained undergarments and difficulty walking or sitting. Urinary incontinence, painful urination and defecation are among other most common presenting complaints. Frequent urinary infections are mostly diagnosed in the victims. Behavioural signs can be developing phobias and exhibiting signs of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, expressions of suicidal thoughts, especially in adolescents. The victims have trouble in school, such as lack of concentration, absences, drops in grades and inability to build lasting friendships. They also suffer from nightmares or bed-wetting. The children return to regressive behaviours such as thumb sucking, self-harm, overly protective for their siblings and assume a caretaker role. They also shrink away or seem threatened by physical contact. Inappropriate sexual knowledge adds more stress to their abuse. The abuse has been linked to changes in the victims’ mental and behavioural development throughout their lives, putting them at risk of engaging in potentially dangerous behaviour in the future.

We all have an instrumental role to protect our innocent children from these perpetrators and preventing further harm to the abused children. Provision of further ongoing support and education to their individual families must not be forgotten.

Rohingya Medics Organisation