Sex abuse

Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened. Child sexual abuse can take place within the family, by a parent, step-parent, sibling or other relative. Or outside the home, for example, by a friend, neighbor, teacher, or stranger. Sometimes it is someone that would normally trust.

• Sexually abused children may also develop the following:
• unusual interest in or avoidance of all things of a sexual nature
• sleep problems or nightmares
• depression or withdrawal from friends or family
• seductiveness
• statements that their bodies are dirty or damaged, or fear that there is something wrong with them in the genital area
• refusal to go to school
• delinquency problems
• secretiveness
• aspects of sexual molestation in drawings, games, fantasies
• unusual aggressiveness, or
• suicidal behavior

The childs sexual abuser may tell the child that something bad will happen if they tell anyone; this makes the child fearful of telling.