Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Child Sexual Abuse Reported to an Urban Public Hospital in Southern India, 2019-22

ABSTRACT

Objective: To describe the profile of child sexual abuse (CSA) reported to a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A retrospective analysis of CSA reported in children aged below 18 years from January, 2019 to June, 2022. Results: Out of the 231 cases of sexual abuse reported, 115 (49.8%) were children below 18 years. Most of the victims were children from 10 to 15 years (37.4%), and there were only two male victims. In 89.6%, the perpetrator was known to the victim. Revictimization was seen in 31%. The reported perpetrators were friends (27%), neighbors (34.8%), strangers (10.4%), or fathers (7.8%). Penetrative abuse was seen in 58.3% of reports. External injuries were seen in 6.96%. Eight victims were pregnant and HIV screening was positive in one victim. Conclusion: Early identification of CSA is important to prevent revictimization. Children from all age groups can be victims of CSA. Perpetrators can hail from all walks of life of the children.