Child sexual abuse: intervention strategy from the prevention models

Abstract

Child Sexual abuse is a global problem, experienced in all societies; it is difficult to document since it usually occurs in a private environment. Many children in Colombia are affected by this serious problem, either within their family nucleus or outside it. According to scientific evidence, women have between 1.5 and 4 times more risk of child sexual abuse than men, and it has been identified that the age of onset of abuse is mostly between 8 and 12 years, with a second peak between 6 and 7 years. The prevention of child sexual abuse is complex, challenging and very necessary, since sexual abuse of children and young people represents a widespread problem throughout the world. Efforts to prevent child sexual abuse can be directed to different target groups, such as possible offenders, children, caregivers or the community. In this article we review the existing models and preventive interventions in order to offer a vision about the current and future possibilities in this matter. Keywords: child sexual abuse, prevention, pedophilia.