Sexual Abuse Treatment Research Articles

Women attending the sexual assault treatment unit services in the Republic of Ireland: A 7-year review.

Sexual assault is pervasive in today's society, with the numbers of those reporting it increasing. In Ireland, 50% of women will experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. We sought to describe the incident details of females presenting to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) network in the Republic of Ireland and to determine associations between incident characteristics and: (1) victim age, (2) presence of injury, (3) victim-perpetrator relationship, and (4) number of assailants. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of all females who attended between 2017 and 2023. Descriptive bivariate analysis was performed. There were 5942 female attendances, with an average age of 26 years. The largest age group was women between 18 and 25 years (38.1%, n = 2263). Forensic examinations were performed in 76.6% (n = 4549). Assailants were male in 92% (n = 5469) of incidents, with multiple assailants disclosed in 7.3% (n = 435). Strangers or recent acquaintances were the assailant in 38.5% (n = 2290) of incidents, and close associates in 22.9% (n = 1359). Incidents occurred at the survivor's home in 22% (n = 1306) of incidents, and in the assailant's home in 22.6% (n = 1342). Drug use within 24 h was reported in 15.1% (n = 897) of cases, and alcohol use in 72% (n = 4276). Drug-facilitated assault was suspected by 16.1% (n = 955). Injuries (genital and extra-genital) occurred in 30.3% (n = 1800) of attendances and were more likely to be seen in those who disclosed ingesting alcohol (Relative risk [RR] 1.325, P < 0.001) or drugs (RR 1.111, P = 0.04) in the 24 h preceding the incident, in those who presented within 24 h (RR 1.646, P < 0.001), those aged 18 years or older (RR 1.07, P = 0.003), and those where the incident occurred outdoors (RR 1.24, P < 0.001). This study, one of the largest on female attendances to a national SATU network, offers detailed insights into demographics, incident details, and circumstances. Most were young women, mainly 18 years and older, many of whom were full-time students. Forensic examinations were the primary reason for attendance, underscoring the network's key role in evidence collection. The study also identified factors linked to a higher risk of injury detection, such as immediate post-incident attendance, being over 18, outdoor incidents, perpetration by a stranger, and prior alcohol or drug use.

A Review of Academic Use of the Term "Minor Attracted Persons".

Although it originated within online pro-pedophile groups, the term "minor attracted person" (MAPs) has been adopted by some academic researchers as a neutral and non-stigmatizing alternative to the term "pedophile." The transferral of this term from pedophile advocates to academic scholarship has been highly controversial. Claims that the use of the term "minor attracted people" normalizes or endorses pedophilia deserve closer scrutiny. This paper is based on a rapid evidence review of all peer-reviewed papers between 2015 and 2023 that used variants of the term "minor attracted" in their title and/or abstract. After screening, 30 studies were identified for review. Our analysis took a thematic approach to understanding the construction and use of the term MAPs in this scholarship. The analysis found that the term MAPs was operationalized in different and contradictory ways, however, the literature broadly agreed that MAPs constitute an oppressed sexual minority who are subject to undue stigmatization and discrimination. We point to the similarities between this sympathetic framing of MAPs and the political goals of the pro-pedophile advocacy groups that created the term MAPs, and from which many MAPs studies recruit their research participants. The review concludes that, in the absence of adequate self-reflexivity and awareness of bias, academic collaborations with pro-pedophile groups can produce work that minimizes the risk and harm of child sexual abuse and has the potential to delegitimize child sexual abuse prevention and treatment efforts.

Private clinical psychologists’ role in evaluation and treatment of childhood sexual abuse: A mixed methods study

BackgroundPsychologists play a significant role in addressing sexual violence against children and adolescents (SVCA) in Brazil. Most literature focuses on the role of public service psychologists in the intervention, resulting in the need to explore the role private clinical psychologists’ (PCP) play in SVCA treatment. ObjectiveThe study aims to: 1) investigate a possible relationship between sociodemographic factors, professional profiles, beliefs about SVCA, and PCPs’ decision to report the abuse, and 2) understand the role PCPs play in evaluating, reporting, and treating cases of SVCA. Participants and settingThe study sampled Brazilian PCPs. The quantitative phase consisted of 409 psychologists, and the qualitative phase consisted of 8 psychologists. MethodsThe study used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design to achieve its goals. The quantitative phase consisted of the Sociodemographic and Professional Questionnaire, Scenario 7, and the Sexual Abuse Belief Scale (SABS) measures. The qualitative phase consisted of individual semi-structured interviews. ResultsThe descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model illustrated factors increasing the likelihood of reporting SVCA by PCPs, including a history of treating confirmed sexual violence cases, taking a course on sexual violence, receiving SVCA information during undergraduate studies, having a master and doctoral degree, and having a single relationship status. The thematic analysis resulted in four themes: The definition of sexual violence, the selectivity of the cases, educational under-preparation, and the need to build a performance network. ConclusionPCPs require professional development to treatment SVCA, and schools of Psychology need to improve their curriculum regarding SVCA education.

Storage of evidence and delayed reporting after sexual assault: Rates and impact factors on subsequent reporting

BackgroundSexual assault (SA) is alarmingly prevalent, yet reporting rates remain disproportionately low. Forensic examinations (FE) play a crucial role in both immediate medical care and evidence collection, yet many victims/survivors may not report the crime initially, leading to the loss of vital forensic evidence. The storage of evidence “Option 3″ care alternative provides post-SA care including FE without initial police involvement. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study analysing the attendances of people who chose to store evidence at the Dublin Sexual assault Treatment Unit (SATU) between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2023. ResultsThere were 238 storage of evidence FEs (‘Option 3’) performed during the study period, which represented 12.8 % of all FEs. The majority identified as female (89.1 %), with an average age of 26.6 years. 31.9 % attended within 24 h of the incident, and 51.3 % self-referred. Most assaults occurred over weekends (64.7 %), with alcohol consumption reported in 82.2 % of cases and drug-facilitated SA concerns in 20.2 %. Genital injuries were present in 17.9 % of females and 19 % of males.Those that availed of storage of evidence (compared with those who initially reported to the police) were significantly more likely to have consumed alcohol (p < 0.001) and the assault was more likely to have occurred indoors (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in care option choice for those ‘unsure’ of the assault occurrence (p = 0.353).Among storage of evidence cases, 20.2 % subsequently reported to the police, with females more likely to report (p = 0.02), while people who were uncertain whether an assault had occurred were less likely to report (p = 0.04). Genital injury (p = 0.822), victim-assailant relationship (p = 0.465), assault location (p = 0.487), and substance consumption (p = 0.332) did not significantly affect subsequent reporting rates. ConclusionsThe availability of storage of evidence has afforded people the opportunity to access prompt, responsive SATU care including collection of forensic evidence which may have significant evidential value. This approach provides further opportunity for comprehensive detection of a crime, even if reporting to the police is delayed.

Integrity and Child Maltreatment at Child Care Centers : A Conceptual Paper

The Department of Social Welfare (JKM) reported 5572 child maltreatment cases until November 2022. According to the Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, the welfare department recorded a total of 336 child maltreatment cases in various categories involving day care centers, register and unregistered nurseries and kindergartens were reported in year 2021 to 2022. Child maltreatment or child abuse is defined as “all forms of physical, emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child's health, survival, development, or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power” (World Health Organization, 1999). With alarming statistics nationwide for several years consecutively, child abuse cases have sparks outrage to many; police, media, politicians, authorities, UNICEF representative and Tunku Mahkota of Johor. Taking the concept of IHSAN (care and compassion) under Malaysia MADANI, this study is timely and appropriate. Therefore, this conceptual paper analyzes the concept of integrity and child maltreatment at child care centers in Malaysia

Sexual assault of the older person: Attendances to the Republic of Ireland's sexual assault treatment unit network

BackgroundSexual assault (SA) poses a threat to all areas of contemporary society. Although older individuals represent a vulnerable demographic, a considerable gap exists in the literature regarding the context in which older individuals experience SA. This study aims to provide a comprehensive description of older individuals' attendances at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) network in the Republic of Ireland. MethodsA 7-year national cross-sectional study was performed to analyse the attendances of older people (≥65 years old) to the SATU network, and to compare them with younger attendances (<65 years old), with a more in-depth subset analysis of Dublin SATU attendances. ResultsDuring the study period, there were 6478 attendances to the SATU network, of which 0.93 % (n = 60) were older people. These included 59 females and 1 male, with the average age of 76.05 years ± 8.16. Forensic examinations were performed in 81.7 %, with the majority seeking assistance within 7 days (80 %). Comparison of older (≥65 years) and younger (<65 years) attendees revealed older individuals were more uncertain whether a sexual assault had occurred (35.5 % vs. 14.4 %, p < 0.001) but more likely to report the incident to the police (78.3 % vs. 64.3 %, p = 0.02). Assault by a person in authority was significantly more common in older age groups (11.7 % vs. 1.8 %, p < 0.001). Older individuals were significantly more likely to be assaulted in their own home (33.3 % vs. 21.5 p < 0.03) or in ‘other-indoors' settings (e.g. nursing home/hospital) (43.3 % vs. 23.4 % p < 0.001). They were less likely to be assaulted in the assailant's home (5.0 % vs. 22.9 %, p < 0.001) or outdoors (5.0 % vs. 19.7 %, p = 0.004).In our subset analysis of 19 cases, 73.7 % occurred in healthcare facilities, 63.2 % had dementia, and 42.1 % were care dependent. Genital injuries were present in 44.4 % of patients and extra-genital injuries in 22.2 %. ConclusionUnique patterns are evident in sexual assault experienced by older people, underscoring the necessity for tailored interventions and effective support systems for reporting and addressing this vulnerable demographic. This is especially crucial in healthcare environments, where a notable proportion of cases occur, frequently involving individuals with dementia and requiring care assistance.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Prevention of Online Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review of Literature

Online Child sexual abuse (OCSA) is a major menace in the digitalized world. Every year, more than a billion children between the ages of 2–17 years are sexually abused. Despite the harsh reality of most incidents, they remain unreported. Not only that but activities on dark web platforms go unmoderated and it becomes very difficult and complex to trace the origin of abuse and exploitation of children. In cases of online abuse, the sources through which detection can be done are evaded. Although several government and non-government initiatives have been implemented worldwide to curb this social menace, their effectiveness and accuracy remain questionable. AI-based services if regulated and executed cautiously can be effective in diagnosing and preventing sexual abuse in children on virtual platforms. Existing literature implies that AI can be a potent armor to detect and predict child sexual abuse online. The ability of artificial intelligence to predict and stop sexual abuse in children is very promising. AI-based technologies that can aid in the identification and prevention of violence against children include mobile computing, the Internet of Things, chatbots, machine learning, pattern recognition, and cloud computing. Therefore, it is essential to examine the existing literature pertaining to the research area, to highlight the emergent need for more applied and evidence-based research in the area. Thus, this study aimed to identify interventions driven by artificial intelligence in preventing online child sexual abuse, its limitations, and future implications. We conducted an extensive systematic literature review to understand the trends and efficacy of AI-based services in preventing and tracing child sexual abuse. The selection of research studies was performed in accordance with the PRISMA standards. Relevant studies were extracted from databases such as ScienceDirect, Springer, IEEE, and MDPI. Articles were selected and screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study identified 35 papers that were strictly limited to the prospect of AI interventions for online child sexual abuse. The review helped in deducing 3 major themes, namely, current trends in the field of AI for preventing online child sexual abuse, algorithm evaluation (advantages and disadvantages of AI tools) in preventing OCSA, and recommendation for technique advancements of AI tools. However, there is scarce evidence that proves AI interventions are effective in solving online child sexual abuse issues, as shown in the paper, thereby encouraging more extant research to be conducted in the area.

Male patient attendances at Sexual Assault Treatment Units in Ireland: An analysis of 381 cases and a comparison with female patients

BackgroundSexual violence is a crime that affects people of all genders. While focus is frequently on female survivors, it is crucial to acknowledge that males also experience sexual violence and to ensure that gender-sensitive services are available to all survivors. Understanding the prevalence of, and factors associated with, sexual violence against males is a critical first step in addressing this issue. We aim to address the lack of data in relation to sexual violence against males. MethodsA cross-sectional study of all male attendances at 6 Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATU) in the Republic of Ireland over a 6-year period and, where applicable, comparison with corresponding female attendances. ResultsThere were 381 male attendances with an average age of 28.5 years over the study period, representing 7 % of all SATU patients. There was a 24 % increase in male attendances during the study period. 39.1 % presented within 24 h of the assault. 61.9 % reported the crime to the police. Employment status included 37.3 % employed, 24.9 % unemployed, and 26.2 % students, with 86.7 % being Irish nationals. Most incidents occurred on weekdays (53.3 %) and at night (56.7 %). Referrals were primarily from police (55.9 %), and psychological support was provided in 62.3 % of cases. Alcohol (60.4 %) and illicit drugs (20.5 %) were reported before assaults. 18.6 % suspected drug-facilitated assaults. Male assailants constituted 90.1 %, with 13.9 % involving multiple assailants. Male attenders were significantly more likely than females to be assaulted in their assailant's home and to be assaulted by more than one assailant. They were significantly less likely than females to report the crime to the police or to have consumed alcohol. ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is one of the largest case series of male patients attending a sexual assault treatment service to be published in the international literature. Male patients are a distinct group that are increasingly accessing SATU services. Significant differences exist between male and female patients’ reported experiences of sexual violence. Knowledge of these factors will support appropriate tailoring of treatment & service provision, prevention and awareness strategies to help modify the impact and reduce the incidence of sexual violence in this cohort.

Modesty, religion, and community: Therapists' perspectives regarding the treatment of child sexual abuse in the ultra-orthodox community

BackgroundReligion is a significant cultural component that impacts child sexual abuse (CSA) in various ways, including its definition, perception, and treatment. This study focuses on the Jewish ultra-Orthodox community in Israel, a strictly religious, segregated, and close-knit community with unique cultural practices and beliefs that impact children's safety and vulnerability to CSA. ObjectiveThis qualitative study aimed to explore therapists' perceptions and ascribed meanings of CSA treatment within the ultra-Orthodox community. Participants and settingThirty in-depth interviews were conducted with therapists working with the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel. MethodsThe interviews were analyzed using thematic qualitative analysis. ResultsThree central axes pertinent to the treatment of CSA in the ultra-Orthodox community were discovered: 1) religious interventions, 2) modest approach, relating to the community's taboo attitude towards sexuality; and 3) the collectivistic nature of the community. The results include specific effect sizes and their statistical significance. ConclusionsThe discussion explores the findings in light of the literature on CSA among religious minority communities and connects them to the unique underlying perception of sexuality in the ultra-Orthodox community. Specific ramifications and recommendations for practice are then considered, alongside the limitations and directions for future study.

General practice trainees' understanding of post-sexual assault care: the impact of a specialist educational intervention.

Sexual assault (SA) is a highly prevalent issue, with significant adverse health sequelae. Given that general practitioners (GPs) may serve as the first point of contact for many SA victims, their awareness of post-SA care and appropriate understanding of referral pathways to a sexual assault treatment unit (SATU) are critically important. This study evaluated GP trainees' knowledge of and comfort with post-SA care. Educational intervention study using a didactic teaching session was delivered by a specialist forensic examiner on post-SA care. A pre and post-study questionnaire was implemented to assess participants' knowledge and comfort levels with subject material. Significance was set at p-value below 0.05. Seventy-five GP-trainees attended the teaching session. Fifty-three completed the pre-teaching questionnaire and 50 completed the post-teaching questionnaire. Only a minority of trainees had received prior teaching in post-SA care as a medical student (13.2% n = 7) or as a postgraduate (28.3% n = 15). After the teaching session, there was a significant improvement trainees' comfort levels in explaining a forensic examination (p < 0.0001), referral pathways to a SATU (p < 0.0001) and offering advice in relation to emergency contraception (p < 0.0001). There was also a significant improvement in understanding HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) (p < 0.001) and forensic examination (FE) time-lines (p < 0.001). This study reveals that GP-trainees have had limited exposure to teaching on post-SA care. Additionally, significant improvements were observed following a 1-h didactic teaching session on post-SA care. Trainees demonstrated increased understanding of SATU referral pathways, understanding of immediate medical care after SA, including PEP and FE timelines.

Post-exposure prophylaxis, STI testing and factors associated with follow-up attendance: a review of 4159 cases of acute post-sexual assault medical care

BackgroundSexual assault (SA) is a prevalent issue with enduring consequences. Post-SA medical care mainly focuses on injuries, sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and detection, as well as preventing unwanted pregnancies....

Female adolescent sexual assault; a national review of 1014 consecutive cases

BackgroundSexual violence is common in contemporary society and disproportionally affects adolescents. In order to develop effective treatment, awareness and prevention strategies it is vital that we understand the epidemiology of adolescent sexual assault (SA). The aim of this study is to evaluate attendances by female adolescents to the national sexual assault treatment unit (SATU) network in the Republic of Ireland and compare these attendances with adult women accessing the service. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study analysing the attendances of all adolescent female attendances at the 6 SATUs in the Republic of Ireland and comparing them with all adult female attendances between 1/1/2017 and 31/12/2022. ResultsThere were 1014 female adolescent attendances and 3951 female adult attendances over the timeframe studied. Adult attenders were more likely to attend within 7-days of the alleged assault compared with adolescent attenders (80.3% V 70.2% OR1.513 CI 1.35-1.697 p < 0.001). When compared with adult attenders, adolescent attenders were significantly more likely to disclose being assaulted outdoors (40.9% V 15.7% OR2.607 CI 2.346-2.898 p < 0.01), during the day (58.4% V 34.4% OR1.673 CI 1.565-1.790 p < 0.01), assaulted by a friend/family member (28.9% V 16% OR 1.812 CI1.603-2.049 p < 0.01) and less likely to have consumed alcohol prior to the incident (45.6% V 25.3% OR1.807 CI 1.653-1.975 p < 0.001). Physical injuries were less likely in adolescent attenders (30% V 35.5% OR0.845 CI 0.758-0.942 p = 0.02). ConclusionA comparison of the characteristics of adolescent and adult female sexual assault disclosures identifies differences regarding location of the incident, relationship to perpetrator and prevalence of alcohol consumption. Knowledge of these factors support appropriate tailoring of treatment, prevention and awareness strategies to help modify the impact and reduce the incidence of SA in the vulnerable adolescent cohort.

Veterans who focus on sexual assault trauma show slower between-session habituation and symptom reduction during prolonged exposure treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Prolonged exposure (PE) is an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but veterans with sexual assault (SA) trauma often discontinue it prematurely. Elevated dropout rates may be due to SA triggering more intense and complex emotions that are more difficult to habituate during imaginal exposures; SA during PE has yet to be examined as a moderator of distress habituation or symptom reduction. Participants were N = 65 veterans (n = 12 SA treatment focus; n = 10 SA history but not treatment focus; n = 43 no SA history) enrolled in a clinical trial of a preparatory sleep intervention followed by PE. The sample was representative of the veteran population. Growth curve modeling was used to examine differences in peak subjective units of distress scale (SUDS) ratings across imaginal exposures and changes in biweekly PTSD symptom assessments between veterans who did versus did not focus on SA during PE and between veterans who did versus did not endorse a history of SA. Peak SUDS ratings and PTSD symptoms declined slower among veterans who focused on an SA trauma relative to those who did not. In contrast, participants who endorsed SA history showed similar declines in distress and PTSD symptoms relative to veterans with no SA history. Veterans who focus on SA during PE may take longer to habituate to trauma content and experience resolution of PTSD symptoms. Awareness of this pattern could allow clinicians to deliver PE more effectively to veterans focusing on an SA trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The ‘most maligned’ witness in the Christopher Dawson case: Gender, power, media and legal culture in the digitally distributed live-streamed court

This article analyses the cultural construction of gender in a highly mediated, globally publicised Australian murder trial. Using the tools of multimodal socio-linguistic analysis, it interrogates the construction of a key female witness – known by the legal pseudonym ‘JC’ – in the physical, digitally distributed and livestreamed courtroom and subsequently through the media sphere, including in newspapers, magazines, podcasts, television and social media. It surfaces a victimblaming narrative in relation to alleged child sexual abuse that was an underlying theme in pretrial reporting, a central feature of the defence’s courtroom strategy and cross examination, and subsequently a dominant focus of the mainstream media’s trial coverage. It traces the emergence of a counter-discourse on social media largely propelled by contributors self-identifying as young women, and the radical reframing of the media narrative in response to the court’s verdict. The article also contextualises its findings against a background in which media technologies and media logics are dramatically reshaping the court’s practices and procedures in relation to ‘open justice’, as evidenced by the operation of the virtual media gallery and publicly livestreamed verdict. It concludes that the hyper-gendered narratives that framed the case are not new. Instead, media technologies – including the court’s livestream, and the public’s use of interactive media platforms – have brought new visibility to a longstanding socio-cultural problem. In Australia, R v Christopher Michael Dawson has been widely celebrated as a step forward for gender equality and the treatment of domestic and sexual abuse by and in the media and the legal system. This analysis demonstrates that in reality change is marginal and uneven.

Improving Care After Sexual Assault: A Needs Assessment for a Standardized, Patient-Centered Educational Resource [ID: 1377465

INTRODUCTION: Prompt medical and psychiatric follow-up improves outcomes among survivors of sexual assault (SSAs). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends clinical and psychological follow-up within 1–2 weeks, yet only one-third receive such care within 1 year. In the setting of acute trauma, SSAs are unlikely to retain much information and discharge paperwork should be provided, including follow-up resources and patient education. Lack of standardization may result in wide variation of these handouts and negatively affect follow-up rates. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of discharge paperwork was performed of SSA patients presenting to a tertiary care emergency department from May to October 2022. Per World Health Organization guidelines for sexual assault (SA) follow-up, the elements evaluated included 1) acute SA treatment (human immunodeficiency virus, sexually transmitted infection, and pregnancy prophylaxis), 2) clinical and psychological follow-up resources, and 3) community resources for SSA. Institutional review board approval was obtained. RESULTS: A total of 39 SA handouts were evaluated. Only two-thirds (27/39) contained instructions regarding post-SA medications, 82% (32/39) included medical follow-up information, a quarter (10/39) included mental health resources, and one-third (13/39) included community resources. CONCLUSION: Timely follow-up after SA reduces patient morbidity. This initial needs assessment demonstrated a wide variation in completeness of discharge paperwork for SSA. As a result, a standardized handout was created, including a timeline of acute and long-term follow-up objectives and a comprehensive list of patient resources, which was incorporated into the electronic medical record system. This model can empower SSA to obtain follow-up care, improve outcomes, and address potential disparities in care.

Protection and Awareness Against Child Abuse

In Pakistan, child abuse has risen alarmingly, i.e., 30% of cases from 2020-2021 statistics.1 WHOcomprehensively drafts the definition as, "Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and oremotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, or commercial or other exploitation,resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of arelationship or responsibilities, trust or power." There is an urgent need to address these issues in the prevention,psychotherapeutic treatment and rehabilitation of such victims and suffering. On the contrary, there will be ascary consequence. According to WHO, about 1 billion old children (2-17 years) across the globe are subjectedto physical, sexual, or emotional harm by their caregivers or strangers Violence or abuse does not haveboundaries of country, religion, class, or gender.2 At the same time, the related stigma keeps it underreported.Every year, around 500 million children suffer from abuse. In the USA, more than 3 million cases are reported,causing 2000 deaths and 18000 permanent disabilities, the victim results every year. The count for sexuallymolested girls is 1 in 4, and for boys, it is 1 in 7.3 In New Delhi, Child abuse is 8 in 10 kids, whereas boys (7 in10 kids) are more vulnerable than girls (6.5 in 10 kids).4 The percentage of sexual abuse in India is 52% onlyadmitted patients annually, whereas statistics for unreported and other molestation are unknown.5 In Sri Lanka,more than 40000 children were involved in prostitution, where children are used by paedophile sex tourists.6In an unofficial report, every year , somewhat 15-20% of children are sexually abused in Pakistan. According toan NGO, there is a rise of 2 to 10 reported cases of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) per day in the upcoming year,whereas the actual numbers would be much higher because CSA is culturally veiled. They documented that bothgenders were equally victimized, although 0-5 years of CSA victims were mostly boys. The perpetratorsincluded close family ties and acquaintances, marking an increase in per year cases reported. Out of a total 3852number of CSA cases, 2211 (51%) were from Punjab. A total number of 92 cases were reported murder after theassault.7According to the latest study, the amygdala in the brain shrinks with repeated trauma, resulting in delayedlearning abilities and deficient memory.8 Depression, isolation, and delinquency are a few more to enumerate.There are physical, behavioural and emotional indicators of abuse that a physician must be able to identify,address and refer to a psychologist for professional treatment. The prevention measures of awareness, trainingfor parenting, character building of parents and psychological treatment can prevent and decrease a victim’ssuffering. The only way to prevent CSA is to educate and spread awareness against this act on two levels. One iseducating parents and teachers, and the other is making the child aware of the good and bad touch. In this regard,the P AAC group has worked. They have prepared useful brochures to protect the child from encountering theissue. The whole structure of society needs renovation, and the best renovation is building attributes based on thepsychological training present in the seerah of the Prophet (SAW) and his companions.

Sexual Abuse and Social Work Intervention from a Feminist Perspective

Sosyal problemleri feminist perspektiften ele almak daha adil ve eşitlikçi toplumların oluşmasında, problemlerin bilinmeyen yönlerinin ve içerdiği güç ilişkilerinin gün yüzüne çıkarılarak mikro ve makro düzeylerde farkındalık oluşturmasında önemli bir adımdır. Bir sorunun feminist düzlemde yeniden okunması, başlangıç noktasının kadınlar olmasını ve ataerkil, baskıcı ve hiyerarşik ilişkilerin yarattığı tüm olumsuzlukların ele alınmasını elzem kılar. Sosyal hizmetin baskı karşıtı, güçlendirici ve özgürleştirici paradigmaları feminist teorinin felsefesi ve argümanları ile paralellik göstermektedir. Bu çalışma karmaşıklığı ve ketumluğu iç içe geçmiş ve birçok toplumda farklı dinamiklerle de olsa benzer şekilde tezahür bulan cinsel istismar sorununu feminist perspektiften ele almayı amaçlamıştır. Çalışma bu kapsamda literatür taraması yoluyla feminist teori, sosyal hizmet ve cinsel istismar arasındaki ilişkiye dikkat çekerek, cinsel istismara maruz bırakılan çocuklar ve aileleri ile gerçekleştirilecek mikro, mezzo ve makro düzeylerdeki sosyal hizmet müdahalelerine ilişkin feminist bakış açısı kazandırmayı ve feminist yaklaşımın uygulamalarda nasıl olabileceğine ilişkin önerilerde bulunmayı ve uygulayıcılara tartışma sunmayı amaçlamıştır.

What are the survivor, family, and professional experiences regarding psychosocial interventions for sexual abuse and violence?

What are the survivor, family, and professional experiences regarding psychosocial interventions for sexual abuse and violence?

Facilitators and Barriers to Child Sexual Abuse Interventions: A Qualitative Study of Interventions in Iran

Background: Child sexual abuse is a public health problem in most countries. Sensitization, research, and programs for identifying and preventing child sexual abuse have been carried out at the national level with increased political and social awareness and international commitments to decline its consequences. Objectives: This study investigated the facilitators and barriers to community-based interventions for child sexual abuse. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted between September 2021 and March 2022 with 15 purposefully selected experts. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the content analysis method. Results: Several barriers and facilitators affected child sexual abuse interventions. The barriers included: (1) sociocultural challenges; (2) legal challenges and gaps; and (3) managerial-structural challenges, while the facilitators were: (1) the improvement of the quality of provided services; and (2) facilitative role of the law. Conclusions: Social interventions for child sexual abuse could consider some items to improve implementation, namely as follow: (1) the intersectional cooperation of organizations and beneficiaries to conduct child abuse interventions for children and their families at the local and national levels; (2) the implementation of empowerment activities for the return of children and parents to the community after child sexual abuse; and (3) the revision of the laws and establishment of more deterrent punishments.

Comparison of Community and Expert Samples in the Perceived Risk of Individuals Who Have Sexually Offended.

Public and clinician attitudes are important to consider when studying the reentry of individuals who sexually offend. Uninformed public attitudes drive the continued use of ineffective policies like registries and residential restrictions in the United States, and experts must assess risk to decide what level of supervision and control to recommend upon release from prison. This study investigated whether actuarial feedback could change participant attitudes about recidivism risk and disposition. Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA) members and a sample from MTurk completed a survey using vignettes to assess recidivism risk and dispositional outcomes of individuals who had sexually offended and varied in their risk to reoffend. They received feedback about the individuals' Static-99R risk levels and adjusted their initial ratings. ATSA members were less punitive than MTurk participants, initially predicted risk that was more consistent with actuarial data, and adjusted when incorrect. MTurk participants held more negative attitudes towards individuals who sexually offend, as measured by the ATS-21. They adjusted their risk ratings more than ATSA members, though their estimates were still higher than the ATSA members after feedback. Implications for US public policy, including the recommendation to use actuarials across the country, are discussed.