What Is Child Sexual Abuse?

Updated on: 6 February 2022 12:17 am

What Is Child Sexual Abuse?

Actual rape and sodomy are only the most aggravated forms of child sexual abuse. Fingering and oral penetration are more common, and equally traumatic. Forms of sexual abuse include:

?An adult exposing his/her genitals to a child, touching the child?s private parts and/or persuading the latter to do it to him/her.

?An adult involving/exposing a child in/to pornography.

?Having oral, vaginal or anal intercourse with a child.

?Verbal or other sexual suggestions made to children by an adult and/or persuading them to engage in any sexual activity.

What are the signs of sexual abuse?

Children are afraid of confiding they have been sexually abused. They are also bewildered and fail to express what they have undergone. Symptoms include sudden behavioural and physical changes like avoidance of particular individuals, use of sexual words, sexual exploration of other children, irritation in throat, anal and genital areas, throat and bladder infections, sexually transmitted infections, loneliness, depression, anxiety, withdrawal and difficulty in concentrating at school or failing in exams.