Sexual Child Abuse - Essay Example

?SEXUAL CHILD ABUSE Introduction Sexual Child Abuse includes various ways of sexual activities and behaviors that occurs between a child and an adultperson in which an adult person victimizes a child for his sexual satisfaction and pleasure by harassing him sexually. Harassing a child often involves body contact which may include kissing , touching , anal or vaginal sex ,forcing child to strip or make child forcefully watch pornography , and exploiting children by showing private body parts and forcing them into the field of prostitution and child trafficking. Childs that are a subject to sexual abuse are often unaware of the fact that they have been harassed as they do not understand sexual abuse and sexual behaviors. Often it is seen that child who has been a victim of sexual abuse does not disclose his abuse because he feels guilty and embarrassed or due to fear of being threatened. Moreover the perpetrator often offers bribe to a child and thus control them. Most often it is seen that child gets molested by a person who is well known to the family for example family friend or home servant. Sometimes family members who include step parents or cousins are the perpetrator. Sexually molesting a child is ethically and morally wrong. (Journal of Child Sexual Abuse) CAUSES OF CHILD ABUSE Sexual child abuse was a reluctant issue in past but with the passage of time it became a serious issue as awareness spread among people. Many cases of child sexual abuse are not reported as children fail to understand the tragedy that happened with them and do not disclose it due to fear of being blamed or punished and sexual harassment at childhood period often traumatizes the child so much that after years the victim understands that what happened with him or her . Recent researches have shown that many times the abuser himself had been a subject to child abuse in his or her past or has been a subject to physical violence. Abusers are usually self-centered lack ability to coping skills and have no understanding of child behavior pattern and treat them devastatingly without feeling for them. Another cause contributing to sexual child abuse is the mental state of abuser. History of abuser often reveals coping up with financial stress and depression in past, psychological illness. Abuser often belongs to a broken family or he has been neglected during his growth period which had affected his behavior and thinking adversely. Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder often co related with neurological disorder in which abuser develops sexual interest for prepubescent child so it is also one of the causes of child sexual abuse. Pedophilia if not treated or repressed leads to severe consequences.it does not have any cure but it do have therapies that help the abuser to cope up with his state. Pedophilic patients often stop sexual abuse when a child starts to develop secondary characteristics of adulthood. Sexual child abuse might be a single event or it may continue for several years. History of abusers have reveled consumption of excessive alcohol and drug intake, family troubles and poverty which is one of the main causes contributing to prevalence of sexual child abuse. Abuser might continue his harassment for over years which devastatingly damage the personality and behavior of child. Children born to heavy alcoholic parents are at a greater risk of to suffer from sexual abuse in near future due to lack of interest of parents in the house which provides an opportunity to abuser to take advantage of the situation as such parents cannot provide much protection to their children due to their habit of alcohol. (Hornor, G., 2010) Sometimes abuser involves in sexual harassment of child just for the sake of fun and pleasure without caring for the child. These are some of the factors and causes that lead to sexual child abuse and harassment. Many researches indicated that abusers were a subject to amnesia. Another reason for sexual child abuse is that sometimes abuser does not feel sexual feelings for people belonging to their own age group and abuse children cleverly by creating false hopes related to wishes of a child and eventually exploiting him or her. (Melinda S. & Segal J., 2013) EFFECTS Sexual Abuse during childhood is a real tragedy robbing children of their childhood which is the golden period of life. Such children become a subject to self-pity and guilt and exhibit low self-esteem. Abused children exhibit situations like difficulty in building up relationships in people, low self-image, eating disorders, as well as physical disabilities. Children who have been subject to a child abuse or are still suffering from it usually show a rapid change in their everyday routine .He or she might exhibit several symptoms such as bowel disorders , loss of appetite , headaches .often a complaint of vaginal discharge , amnesia , disturbed preach and lack of interest in studies and sports. Sometime a female child who has been abused sexually might suffer from an early pregnancy. If a parent or a relative somehow concludes or is in a doubt that a child has been a subject to sexual abuse , the child should be taken to pediatrician to confirm it and thus save him from future abuse. Childhood abuse is a traumatic life event that may lead to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder for which a person has to take therapies and medicines to cope up with the situation. (Bottoms, B. & Epstein, M., 1998). Children who had been subject to sexual abuse when grow up also exhibit trouble and difficulty during development of intimate relations as they suffer from reactive attachment disorder. A child who has been sexually harassed undergoes a series of changes in brain function and development having adverse and deleterious effects on neurological and psychological development and growth of child. The time period during which abuse continued or either it was a single event also contributes to the symptoms that child exhibits after abuse accordingly Children who are abused more than once take much time to recover and live a normal life. According to a research carried out by Department of Sociology at University of Nebraska-Lincoln 41 articles on sexual child abuse were examined and outcome concluded PSTD, suicidal attempts, antisocial behavior disorder and low self-esteem. Sexual abuse affects a child causing various physical and emotional abnormalities in the development of child and it also depends upon the forceful manner and number of times the child was abused and treated during assault. Children who are molested sexually often develop disruptive disorder characterized by feeling aggression and exhibition of self-destructive behavior. Sexual assault during childhood is a cause of mental illness and stress during adult life as it leaves an influence on the social and personal life and also during intimate moments due to which person faces trouble in marriage and relationships as well. Researches have shown that sometimes minority of victims do not memorize that they were assaulted but in case of victims who memorize the fact that they were assaulted under go and face dangerous consequences in their further life if not treated properly .Overall, it can be concluded that the damage caused by sexual assault affects the child’s developing capacities like sexuality, trust friendship .relations, intimacy and so after the acknowledgement of the fact that a child was sexually molested the child should be treated properly so he can again live a normal and healthy life and regain his confidence and interest in the life. (Besharov, D. J., 1994). SOLUTIONS The first and most important solution to child abuse is prevention. This can be achieved through a variety of support programs, such as education and counseling for parents, the provision of respite care services etc. Solutions to overcome child sexual abuse often include primary preventive measures and precautions which include elimination of the fears triggered by sexual assault. Parents can play an important role in the treatment of child so he can overcome his fears. Parents should encourage child to share his or her feelings with them, parents should support him and should try their best to lessen the deleterious effects brought about by sexual abuse. Parents can bring a new hope in a victimized child’s life only with little understand and cooperation with their kid so parents should understand that they would have to play an important role. Those who have been abused who subsequently have positive school experiences where they feel themselves to be performing well in academic sport and social fields, have significantly lower rates of stress and depression anticipated by assault in them. School provides them a great platform to cope up with their situation and bring a change in their life .Encouragement by teachers and fellow partners are also proven to lessen the harmful effects and help such a child to re gain his confidence. A child should also be given counseling sessions by a counsellor so it can contribute to his personality formation. Love, care, affection and proper counseling of child along with suitable medicine can heal child’s mental state of mind and can take him or her out from the feeling of guilt, shame and low self-esteem Once it comes obvious that a certain child has been a subject to sexual assault, the doctor should thoroughly examine the child for bruises cuts, vaginal injury and mouth ulcers and injury to other genital organs. (Melinda S. & Segal J., 2013) Abuser also needs treatment for his health and punishment for his activities .If Child becomes successful in identifying be treated psychologically and by medicines .They should be given therapy sessions so that they can also lead a healthy life and once their punishment is over they do not risk more innocent kids at risk of abuse. It should be made clear that child abuse is not acceptable at all in any way, shape or form. There is no excuse for child abuse under any circumstances, in any situation. Awareness programs on preventing children from sexual abuse should be introduced to public by media campaigns and events thus enhancing people’s knowledge on the subject among with provision of sense of responsibility which will lessen the rate of sexual child abuse and will provide a better and safe environment for living. People should not hesitate reporting a possible suspicious sexual activity against a child. (Journal of Child Sexual Abuse) STATISTICS Sexual Child Abuse statistics was given importance after 1970 when women gathered courage to admit that they had been victim to abuse in their childhood .Before 1970 women were not that bold. Since then sexual child abuse was given importance. REFERENCE MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE: A SURVEY OF YOUNG ADULTS MICHELLE A. EPSTEIN AND BETTE L. BOTTOMS University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA According to a research study carried out by WHO in 2001 bout 4o million children become a victim to sexual assault. Another research conducted by WHO revealed that 14% of children who were abused sexually in their childhood committed suicide. Every year about one million more children from all over the world are exploited sexually (CASA Alianza, 2001) Sexual abuse statistics differ from country to country but they are alarming. According to 57th session of UN commission on human rights 36 % of girls and 46 % of boys suffered sexual abuse. The almost 90,000 cases of child sexual abuse reported each year fall far short of the actual number. . (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) An estimated 25% of girls and 16% of boys experience sexual abuse before they are 18 years old. . (Ann Botash, MD, in Pediatric Annual, May 1997.) Sexual abuse statistics study done on female prisoners showed that 80% were victims of childhood physical or sexual abuse. (Conference on Child Victimization & Child Offending, 2000) CASE STUDY In a research carried out by PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA during year 2005 1737 (in which three fourth was composed of girls ) cases of sexual child abuse were reported in south Africa, north Durban and natal from January 2001 to December 2003 in which researchers concluded that disclosure patterns that is adults who have been a victim to child abuse in their past predicted information about their respective abusers which included their age, gender and the manner in which they carried out their sexual contact, time period and rate of abuse and how they coped up with their situation. (Hornor, G., 2010) CONCLUSION Everybody has a right to live his her childhood free of fear and sexual child abuse snatches it away so it should be greatly condemned. A lot of progress has been made to eliminate sexual child abuse. Professionals and social organizations working against sexual child abuse continue their sincere efforts against sexual child abuse. Campaigns have organized and scheduled against sexual child abuse as a result of which children are also aware about what is sexual abuse .Although still in many parts of world child abuse occurs and thus leaves its devastating effects on child’s mind but advance therapies, treatments and medications have been a blessing for such child. Parents should take special care of their child and provide him protection and efforts against sexual child abuse should be prioritized. (Hornor, G., 2010) REFERENCES 1k- Citizens Advice (2012). Child abuse. 1-5. Retrieved from: www.adviceguide.org.u Family Violence Initiative (2012). Serving Canadians: Child abuse is wrong: What can I do? Department of Justice Canada, 17-19.  2- Melinda S. & Segal J. (2013). Child Abuse and neglect: Recognizing, preventing, and reporting child abuse. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm  3- McPherson C. (2012). Child sexual abuse is a global problem. Retrieved from http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist-297095-child-sexual-abuse-is-a-global-problem.html  4- Besharov, D. J. (1994). Responding to child sexual abuse: The need for a balanced approach. In R.E. Behrman (Ed.), The future of children, 3 & 4, 135-155. Los Altos, CA: Retrieved from The Center for the Future of Children, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation.  5- Bottoms, B. & Epstein, M. (1998). Memories of childhood sexual abuse: A survey of young adults. Child Abuse & Neglect, 22(12), 1217-1238. doi:10.1037//0022-006X.65.5.811  Family Violence Initiative (2012). Serving Canadians: Child abuse is wrong: What can I do? Department of Justice Canada, 17-19.  6- Gries, L.; Goh, D.; Andrews, M.; Gilbert, J., Praver, F., Stelzer, D. (2000). Positive reaction to disclosure and recovery from child sexual abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 9 (1): 29–51. doi:10.1300/J070v09n01_03.  7- Holguin, G. (2003). The sexually abused child: Potential mechanisms of adverse influences of such a label. Aggression and Violent Behavior 8 (6): 645. doi:10.1016/S1359-1789(02)00101-5.  8- Hornor, G. (2010) Child sexual abuse: Consequences and implications. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 24(6), 358-364. ISSN 0891-5245. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2009.07.003.  9- Martin, J., Anderson, J., Romans, S., Mullen, P., O'Shea, M. (1993). Asking about child sexual abuse: Methodological implications of a two stage survey. Child Abuse & Neglect 17(3): 383–92. doi:10.1016/0145-2134(93)90061-9.  10- Exploring the role of child abuse on later drug abuse: Researchers face broad gaps in information. NIDA Notes, 13(2). Retrieved from the National Institute on Drug Abuse website: www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol13N2/exploring  11- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. (2007). Child maltreatment 2005. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office website: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/resource/child-maltreatment-2007  12- Tyler, K.A. (2002). Social and emotional outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: A review of recent research. Aggression and Violent Behavior 7(6): 567–589. doi:10.1016/S1359-1789(01)00047-7.  Read More