Quote From: anon_slcProbably one of the most disturbing facts about child sexual abuse and incest is that in 80% of reported cases, the mother of the victim was aware of the sexual abuse inflicted on the child, yet did little or nothing about it. Just how responsible is a parent for failing to report or stop the sexual abuse of a child or family member?
If the sexual assault has occurred within 72 hours of a physical examination, forensic evidence collection should be conducted. A complete physical examination, including careful documentation of any lacerations (a torn or jagged wounds), ecchymoses (skin discoloration caused by the escape of blood into the tissues from ruptured blood vessels) or petechiae (pinpoint size flat round red dots under the skin surface caused from hemorrage - bleeding into the skin), is critical. Physical examination of the oral cavity includes inspection of the hard and soft palate for bruising or petechiae, and inspection of the frenulum (the membrane that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth) for any lacerations that can result from forced oral penetration.
Rape evidence collection kits are available in the emergency department of most hospitals. Evaluation of acute sexual assault may be conducted in an emergency department setting or, if available, at a children's advocacy center. In nonacute cases, the office of the family physician has the benefit of being a familiar location for the patient. The physician should maintain a gentle and calm demeanor and be considerate of the apprehensive child. It is helpful to explain the examination beforehand to the patient and caretaker.
Medical problems include anogential (anal) trauma, bleeding, irritation or discharge, dysuria (painful or difficult urination), frequent urinary tract infections, encopresis (repeated passing of feces into places other than the toilet), enuresis (repeated passing of urine into places other than the toilet), pregnancy, diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and oral trauma.
Children may present with somatic (muscles and nerves) complaints such as recurrent agdominal pain or frequent headaches resulting from the psychologic stress. Sexual acting-out behavior is the most specific indicator of possible sexual abuse.
Child sexual abuse generally refers to sexual acts, sexually motivated behaviors, or sexual exploitation involving children. Child sexual abuse includes a wide range of behaviors, such as:
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Oral, anal, or genital penile penetration
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Anal or genital digital or other penetration
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Genital contact with no intrusion
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Fondling of a child's breasts or buttocks
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Indecent exposure
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Inadequate or inappropriate supervision of a child's voluntary sexual activities
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Use of a child in prostitution, pornography, Internet crimes, or other sexually exploitative activities
Sexual abuse includes both touching offenses (fondling or sexual intercourse) and nontouching offenses (exposing a child to pornographic materials) and can involve varying degrees of violence and emotional trauma.
The most commonly reported cases involve incest, or sexual abuse occurring among family members, including those in biological families, adoptive families, and stepfamilies. Incest most often occurs within a father-daughter relationship.
Mother-son, father-son, and sibling-sibling incest also occurs. Sexual abuse is also sometimes committed by other relatives or caretakers. In fifty percent of reported child sexual abuse within families the perpetrator was an older sibling.
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child:
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Has difficulty walking or sitting
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Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities
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Reports nightmares or bedwetting
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Experiences a sudden change in appetite
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Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
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Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age 14
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Runs away
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Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:
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Is unduly protective of the child or severely limits the child's contact with other children, especially of the opposite sex
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Is secretive and isolated
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Is jealous or controlling with family members
The presence of a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a family; however, when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination you should take a closer look at the situation and consider the possibility of child sexual abuse.
Search State statues for issues related to child abuse and neglect, child welfare, and adoption:
www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/state/
Hope it helps!
I learned last summer my 11 year old son was digitally molesting my 3 year and 5 year old girls. We took them to the hospital. Saw a hospital social worker, we were very honest about everything.
The POLICE and CPS did NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!
We were left pretty much ALONE to pick up the peices. Don't say parents don't do anything! I have some colorful words come to mind when I hear that. We did everything we could. But NOBODY helped us. I had to give legal gaurdianship of my son to a relive that lives about 700 miles away.
My son is also bi-polar. He was getting proffestional help. He had theropy almost weekly and had a phychiatrist. NOBODY saw this coming.
There are no support groups for parents of perpatrators and victums. Now my young daughters are well aware of genital sensations at such an inappropriate age.
What makes this story so appauling to me, is I was raped as a young teen. I swore I would do ANYTHING to protect my daughters from anything even similar to that. I failed. I didn't protect them from my son. I had no idea he even knew about such things.
Everytime I tried to have "the talk" with him, he was grossed out. I would only get as far as pubic and armpi hair and he would act grossed out. I had no idea he knew of female genitals. He never even talks about body parts.
Lets face it folks there aren't always warning signs! If trained proffessionals couldn't tell anything was wrong, how was I supposed to?
Also he was never molested. We made sure to ask him that, after we learned what he did. Even the proffesssionals asked him. He had NO introduction to his crimes.
I would like however, people to be aware, it isn't always the parents fault.
Don't put the blame on all of us!!! That is unjust and ignorant. Personally I would like some copywritten information on what this bulletun has posted. I am not saying its wrong, but I would like to see information to back this up. I would also like to know who was taking the numbers on the study.
What if you found out that your own child was molesting other children? Sherie-Lynn says her 12-year-old son, Parker, has been acting out sexually since he was 4 years old. She always suspected that he had been molested, and now that he’s been expelled from school for violent behavior and inappropriate sexual conduct with another student, she’s confronting her family’s dirty secret. Could Sherie-Lynn’s father, Al, whom she claims molested her as a child, have violated her son? And what does Sherie-Lynn’s mother, Elaine, say she witnessed? As Sherie-Lynn faces her painful past, will her father give her the answers she’s looking for? Share your thoughts, join the discussion.
