Authors review the epidemiology of child sexual abuse. They summarize the individual, social and ... more Authors review the epidemiology of child sexual abuse. They summarize the individual, social and medico-legal aspects of sexual violence. They present an achievable approach for managing and preventing sexual crime concerning the circumstances of public health and the current laws in Hungary. Searching for specific signs and symptoms will facilitate the recognition of the cases and the success of the official procedure. In order to explore and to prevent child sexual abuse an interdisciplinary instruction is recommended on different educational levels.
Female child sexual abuse within the family in a Hungarian County
Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of intrafamiliar female child... more Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of intrafamiliar female child sexual abuse and to explore common features that may be utilized as targets for possible methods of prevention. We also described the medical and legal approaches to handling child neglect. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study on 52 sexually abused girls under the age of 18 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical and Health Science Center of Debrecen. We prospectively recorded the data of all cases. Intrafamiliar events were defined if the victim and perpetrator belonged to the same family. Legal outcomes were also recorded. Results: During the 16-year period, 209 cases of sexual abuse were seen in our clinic, 52 of them had been involved in child sexual abuse within the family. This accounts for 25% of adolescent cases. Eighty-six percent of the victims were pupils, 50% of them were between 11 and 14 years of age. The perpetrator was the victim’s father in 44%, and the stepfather in 40%. There was a slight difference between the type of abuse among the pre- and postpubertal group of victims, but statistically it was not significant. The abuse occurred on multiple occasions in 52%. The occurrence rate of assault was the highest in the summer season (58%), mostly in the afternoon (42%) and it took place almost exclusively at home (98%). The mother accompanied the victim in 38% of the cases and the police in 40%. Vaginal penetration was the type of abuse in 75%, and sexual perversion in 25%. Six victims were physically injured, the presence of sperm could be confirmed on vulvovaginal smears in 2 cases. One pregnancy conceived. Nine cases were reported to the police and as a result of legal proceedings, 5 perpetrators have been sentenced. Conclusion: The majority of crimes take place within the family and are disclosed after multiple episodes. The small proportion of reported sexual assaults is the consequence of the lack of harmony between the Hungarian conditions of emergency care and the criminal law. Prevention calls for attention at all levels of child education, observation at off-school times, early involvement of health professionals, applying standardized medical guidelines and the modification of jurisdiction.
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 2005
To summarize the characteristics of female child sexual abuse and to explore common features that... more To summarize the characteristics of female child sexual abuse and to explore common features that may be utilized as targets for possible methods of prevention. Prospective, longitudinal study. A Hungarian county, University of Debrecen. Between 1986 and 2001, 209 girls under the age of 18 who had been exposed to sexual abuse visited the Department of Adolescent Gynecology. We prospectively collected data illustrating the characteristics of all cases. Events in which victim and perpetrator were members of the same family were recorded as intrafamilial. Subsequent legal procedures were also evaluated. We describe the medical and legal approaches to handling child neglect. Seventy-five percent of the victims were students, and 47% of them were between 11 and 14 years of age. The perpetrator was familiar to the victim in 66% of the cases, and a stranger in 34%. Fifty-two (25%) perpetrators were members of the victims' families. In 11% of cases, the perpetrator was the victim's father and in 10%, her stepfather. The abuse had occurred on multiple occasions in 21%. The occurrence rate of assault was highest in the summer season (59%). Thirty-nine percent of victims were accompanied by their mothers when they attended the clinic and 43%, by police. officers. Vaginal penetration was the type of abuse in 80%, and sexual perversion in 20%. Sixty-six victims were physically injured, and in 38 cases the presence of sperm was confirmed in vulvo-vaginal smears. One pregnancy occurred as the result of the abuse. In all, 127 cases were reported to the police; 56 of the perpetrators were sentenced as a result of legal proceedings. A high proportion of female child sexual abuse takes place within the family and is revealed only after multiple episodes. The low reported prevalence of sexual assault is the consequence of the lack of cooperation between the emergency services in Hungary and the Hungarian criminal law. Prevention requires vigilance in out-of-school times, child education, early involvement of healthcare professionals, and adjustment of the administration of justice.
... Login to save citations to My List. Citation. Database: PsycINFO. [Book; Authored Book]. Chil... more ... Login to save citations to My List. Citation. Database: PsycINFO. [Book; Authored Book]. Child sexual abuse. Family life series. La Fontaine, Jean. Oxford, England: Polity Press. (1990). 248 pp. Abstract. This challenging study by ...
The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of intrafamiliar female child sexual abus... more The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of intrafamiliar female child sexual abuse and to explore common features that may be utilized as targets for possible methods of prevention. We also described the medical and legal approaches to handling child neglect. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study on 52 sexually abused girls under the age of 18 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical and Health Science Center of Debrecen. We prospectively recorded the data of all cases. Intrafamiliar events were defined if the victim and perpetrator belonged to the same family. Legal outcomes were also recorded. During the 16-year period, 209 cases of sexual abuse were seen in our clinic, 52 of them had been involved in child sexual abuse within the family. This accounts for 25% of adolescent cases. Eighty-six percent of the victims were pupils, 50% of them were between 11 and 14 years of age. The perpetrator was the victim's father in 44%, and the stepfather in 40%. There was a slight difference between the type of abuse among the pre- and postpubertal group of victims, but statistically it was not significant. The abuse occurred on multiple occasions in 52%. The occurrence rate of assault was the highest in the summer season (58%), mostly in the afternoon (42%) and it took place almost exclusively at home (98%). The mother accompanied the victim in 38% of the cases and the police in 40%. Vaginal penetration was the type of abuse in 75%, and sexual perversion in 25%. Six victims were physically injured, the presence of sperm could be confirmed on vulvovaginal smears in 2 cases. One pregnancy conceived. Nine cases were reported to the police and as a result of legal proceedings, 5 perpetrators have been sentenced. The majority of crimes take place within the family and are disclosed after multiple episodes. The small proportion of reported sexual assaults is the consequence of the lack of harmony between the Hungarian conditions of emergency care and the criminal law. Prevention calls for attention at all levels of child education, observation at off-school times, early involvement of health professionals, applying standardized medical guidelines and the modification of jurisdiction.
Authors review the epidemiology of child sexual abuse. They summarize the individual, social and ... more Authors review the epidemiology of child sexual abuse. They summarize the individual, social and medico-legal aspects of sexual violence. They present an achievable approach for managing and preventing sexual crime concerning the circumstances of public health and the current laws in Hungary. Searching for specific signs and symptoms will facilitate the recognition of the cases and the success of the official procedure. In order to explore and to prevent child sexual abuse an interdisciplinary instruction is recommended on different educational levels.
Female child sexual abuse within the family in a Hungarian County
Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of intrafamiliar female child... more Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of intrafamiliar female child sexual abuse and to explore common features that may be utilized as targets for possible methods of prevention. We also described the medical and legal approaches to handling child neglect. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study on 52 sexually abused girls under the age of 18 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical and Health Science Center of Debrecen. We prospectively recorded the data of all cases. Intrafamiliar events were defined if the victim and perpetrator belonged to the same family. Legal outcomes were also recorded. Results: During the 16-year period, 209 cases of sexual abuse were seen in our clinic, 52 of them had been involved in child sexual abuse within the family. This accounts for 25% of adolescent cases. Eighty-six percent of the victims were pupils, 50% of them were between 11 and 14 years of age. The perpetrator was the victim’s father in 44%, and the stepfather in 40%. There was a slight difference between the type of abuse among the pre- and postpubertal group of victims, but statistically it was not significant. The abuse occurred on multiple occasions in 52%. The occurrence rate of assault was the highest in the summer season (58%), mostly in the afternoon (42%) and it took place almost exclusively at home (98%). The mother accompanied the victim in 38% of the cases and the police in 40%. Vaginal penetration was the type of abuse in 75%, and sexual perversion in 25%. Six victims were physically injured, the presence of sperm could be confirmed on vulvovaginal smears in 2 cases. One pregnancy conceived. Nine cases were reported to the police and as a result of legal proceedings, 5 perpetrators have been sentenced. Conclusion: The majority of crimes take place within the family and are disclosed after multiple episodes. The small proportion of reported sexual assaults is the consequence of the lack of harmony between the Hungarian conditions of emergency care and the criminal law. Prevention calls for attention at all levels of child education, observation at off-school times, early involvement of health professionals, applying standardized medical guidelines and the modification of jurisdiction.
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 2005
To summarize the characteristics of female child sexual abuse and to explore common features that... more To summarize the characteristics of female child sexual abuse and to explore common features that may be utilized as targets for possible methods of prevention. Prospective, longitudinal study. A Hungarian county, University of Debrecen. Between 1986 and 2001, 209 girls under the age of 18 who had been exposed to sexual abuse visited the Department of Adolescent Gynecology. We prospectively collected data illustrating the characteristics of all cases. Events in which victim and perpetrator were members of the same family were recorded as intrafamilial. Subsequent legal procedures were also evaluated. We describe the medical and legal approaches to handling child neglect. Seventy-five percent of the victims were students, and 47% of them were between 11 and 14 years of age. The perpetrator was familiar to the victim in 66% of the cases, and a stranger in 34%. Fifty-two (25%) perpetrators were members of the victims' families. In 11% of cases, the perpetrator was the victim's father and in 10%, her stepfather. The abuse had occurred on multiple occasions in 21%. The occurrence rate of assault was highest in the summer season (59%). Thirty-nine percent of victims were accompanied by their mothers when they attended the clinic and 43%, by police. officers. Vaginal penetration was the type of abuse in 80%, and sexual perversion in 20%. Sixty-six victims were physically injured, and in 38 cases the presence of sperm was confirmed in vulvo-vaginal smears. One pregnancy occurred as the result of the abuse. In all, 127 cases were reported to the police; 56 of the perpetrators were sentenced as a result of legal proceedings. A high proportion of female child sexual abuse takes place within the family and is revealed only after multiple episodes. The low reported prevalence of sexual assault is the consequence of the lack of cooperation between the emergency services in Hungary and the Hungarian criminal law. Prevention requires vigilance in out-of-school times, child education, early involvement of healthcare professionals, and adjustment of the administration of justice.
... Login to save citations to My List. Citation. Database: PsycINFO. [Book; Authored Book]. Chil... more ... Login to save citations to My List. Citation. Database: PsycINFO. [Book; Authored Book]. Child sexual abuse. Family life series. La Fontaine, Jean. Oxford, England: Polity Press. (1990). 248 pp. Abstract. This challenging study by ...
The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of intrafamiliar female child sexual abus... more The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of intrafamiliar female child sexual abuse and to explore common features that may be utilized as targets for possible methods of prevention. We also described the medical and legal approaches to handling child neglect. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study on 52 sexually abused girls under the age of 18 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical and Health Science Center of Debrecen. We prospectively recorded the data of all cases. Intrafamiliar events were defined if the victim and perpetrator belonged to the same family. Legal outcomes were also recorded. During the 16-year period, 209 cases of sexual abuse were seen in our clinic, 52 of them had been involved in child sexual abuse within the family. This accounts for 25% of adolescent cases. Eighty-six percent of the victims were pupils, 50% of them were between 11 and 14 years of age. The perpetrator was the victim's father in 44%, and the stepfather in 40%. There was a slight difference between the type of abuse among the pre- and postpubertal group of victims, but statistically it was not significant. The abuse occurred on multiple occasions in 52%. The occurrence rate of assault was the highest in the summer season (58%), mostly in the afternoon (42%) and it took place almost exclusively at home (98%). The mother accompanied the victim in 38% of the cases and the police in 40%. Vaginal penetration was the type of abuse in 75%, and sexual perversion in 25%. Six victims were physically injured, the presence of sperm could be confirmed on vulvovaginal smears in 2 cases. One pregnancy conceived. Nine cases were reported to the police and as a result of legal proceedings, 5 perpetrators have been sentenced. The majority of crimes take place within the family and are disclosed after multiple episodes. The small proportion of reported sexual assaults is the consequence of the lack of harmony between the Hungarian conditions of emergency care and the criminal law. Prevention calls for attention at all levels of child education, observation at off-school times, early involvement of health professionals, applying standardized medical guidelines and the modification of jurisdiction.
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