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About CSA
Child Sexual Abuse:
“Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is the involvement of a child in sexual activity with an adult or another child who by the age or development is in a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.”
Child Sexual Abuse formulated by the 1999 WHO Consultation Abuse Prevention (62) (excerpt)
What Constitutes Child Sexual Abuse?
A child is sexually abused when touched inappropriately or is violated by means which are visual or verbal in nature. Some of the various ways in which a child could be abused are listed below:
Contact: |
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Fondling that includes sexualised hugging and kissing. |
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Making the child touch the adult sexually or vice-versa. |
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Making the child give or receive oral sex. |
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Penetrating Vaginal and/or anal areas with body parts (fingers, tongue, penis) or objects. |
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Dr. Kersi Chavda |
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Non Contact: |
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Photographing the child involved in a sexual act. |
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Showing the child pornographic materials. |
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Exposing genital area to child or vice versa for sexual gratification. |
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“Peeping” in on the child while dressing, showering, using the restroom or forcing the child to watch abuser undressing. |
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Sexualised talk with the child. |
Abuser:
Anybody can be an abuser. Sex offenders do not fit any classic stereotype. They come from all walks of life and are ordinary people. They can be family members, family friends, baby sitters, coaches, teachers, visitors or neighbours. |
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Indicators
Behavioural Indicators of CSA: |
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Difficulty with concentrating and being withdrawn or overly obedient. |
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Anxious, irritable or destructive behaviour. |
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Scholastic problems. |
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Consistent psychosomatic complains or frequent depression |
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Regressive behaviour such as baby talk thumb sucking and bed wetting. |
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Creating stories, poems or artwork about abuse. |
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Sexual knowledge or behaviour that is inappropriate for the child’s age or development. |
Note: All mentioned indicators do no necessarily always have to be as a result of sexual abuse. |
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Physical Indicators: |
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Bruising, bleeding, swelling, tears or cuts on genitals or anus. |
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An unusual vaginal odour or discharge. |
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Torn, stained or bloody clothes especially underwear. |
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Pain or itching in the genital area, difficulty going to the bathroom, walking or sitting. |
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Sexually transmitted diseases, especially in pre-adolescent children. |
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Pregnancy. |
In some cases, it is possible that a child could show absolutely no behavioural or physical indicators. |
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Prevention & Handling Disclosure
Prevention of CSA: |
It is important to have the right information and a sensitive attitude to prevent CSA. Some steps that you can take to address CSA are: |
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Listen to your children and trust what they say. Even if it shocks you. Children rarely make up stores about sexual abuse. |
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Be watchful of the company your child keeps. |
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Teach children about being safe in a way that does not frighten them. |
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Teach children names of their private body parts: this includes their lips and parts of their bodies covered by a swimming suit. |
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Teach children never to keep secrets that make them feel uncomfortable or bad. |
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Creating stories, poems or artwork about abuse. |
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Sexual knowledge or behaviour that is inappropriate for the child’s age or development. |
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Handling disclosure: |
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Remain calm and do not express shock, panic, or disbelief because the child is counting on you to provide support. |
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Be a listener and not an investigator. |
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Reassure the child affectionately that they have done the right thing by telling you and that they are not in trouble. |
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Keep information confidential- only those who absolutely need to know should be told. |
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Seek medical, legal and psychological help. |
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Don’t express your anger against the abuser in front of the child, especially if the child is close to the abuser. This might deter the child from telling you the truth in future. |
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Age Appropriate Infomration
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18 months: Teach your child the proper names for body parts. |
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3-5 years: Teach your child about private parts of the body and how to say no sexual advances. Give straightforward answers about sex. |
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5-8 years: Discuss safety away from home and the difference between comfortable touch and uncomfortable touch. Encourage your child to talk. |
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8-12 years: Stress personal safety. Start to discuss rules of sexual conduct that are accepted by the family. |
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13-18 years: Stress personally safety. Discuss rape, date rape, sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy. |
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