Child Sexual Abuse Tackling the qualms

Nirmala (name changed) was the last one to get down from the auto after school. She stayed at Mehdipatnam and her school was in Himayatnagar. Habeeb, the auto driver stopped the auto in a deserted area and sexually abused the class V student for 4 months. He bought her chocolate daily. When the child came home with a chocolate daily the mother grew suspicious. They lodged a complaint with the Asifnagar police station but withdrew it within 24 hours due to social stigma and the fear of police stations and courts.

One in every two children are subjected to child sexual abuse in India while 80% of the cases go unreported. Hence, it is important for women and child development department to come forward to report cases of assault.

Mostly even though officials of the department are aware of such cases, they shy away. Although child sexual abuse is rampant in our country it comes as no surprise that such crimes are seldom registered with the authorities. Child sexual abuse is a form of abuse in which an adult or adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities, indecent exposure to a child with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to intimidate or groom the child, physical sexual contact with a child, or using a child to produce child pornography .

Children of every gender, age, race, ethnicity, background, socioeconomic status and family structure are at risk. No child is immune. Family and acquaintance child sexual abuse perpetrators have reported that they look for specific characteristics in the children they choose to abuse. There are child and family characteristics that significantly heighten or lower risk of sexual abuse.

Children who live with both married biological parents are at low risk for abuse. The risk increases when children live with step-parents or a single parent. Children living without either parent are 10 times more vulnerable to be sexually abused than children that live with both biological parents. Children who live with a single parent who have a live-in partner are at the highest risk. They are 20 times more likely to be victims of child sexual abuse than children living with both biological parents.

Gender is also a major factor in sexual abuse. Girls are 5 times more likely to be abused than boys. The age of the boy being abused also plays a part. 8% of victims aged between 12-17 are boys. 26% of victims under the age of 12 are boys according to a study by research students of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Age is a significant factor in sexual abuse. While there is risk for children of all ages, children are most vulnerable to abuse between the age group of 7 to 13. The median age for reported abuse is 9-years-old however; more than 20% of children are sexually abused before the age of 8 says a study by TISS.

Most studies have reported that children with disabilities are at a greater risk for sexual abuse. The latest research identified incidents of child sexual abuse involving children with disabilities at only half the rate of their non-disabled peers. Many schools are imparting education on sex. Hesitation to approach topics related to sex makes it difficult for children to express themselves if they have been abused sexually. Children often cannot express the trauma they have gone through as they lack the knowledge.

Sexually abused children show behavioural change. They get depressed, show anxiety, act disinterested, score low marks, bed wet with fear and also encounter sleep disorders

Children should be allowed to communicate says Dr Usha, child psychiatrist. Educate your child that their private parts should not be allowed to touch or they should firmly say no, if an adult makes them uncomfortable while touching them.

According to experts, it is not an increase in the number of cases of child sexual abuse but an increase in number of instances reported. Recently many parents are coming forward to get their children tested for child sexual abuse and treatment, if required. A common question asked by many of the parents is what they should do to prevent child sexual abuse from being filed as an FIR as they do not want to get involved in the long-drawn court proceedings.

Non government organisation, ANKURAM Woman & Child Development Society launched a toll free help line 1800-425-8696 for victims of child abuse. Their campaign will be extended to schools across the state.

Lata Jain