Attention health professionals!!

Let's keep our eyes open.

What do we need to know about child sexual abuse?

Child Sexual Abuse is defined as any activity in which an adult or older child uses a younger child in a sexual way. This ranges from relatively milder forms such as touching/ fondling, showing one's own or looking at the child's private parts, too more severe forms such as rape.

• Child Sexual Abuse is extremely prevalent in Pakistan irrespective of age, sex, education, socio-economic class, intelligence, etc.
• Most abusers are known to the child and may even be trusted adults
• Child sexual abuse can have long-lasting effects on personality, even if it happened at a young age, or just once, or wasn't very severe.
• Most victims of child sexual abuse are afraid to disclose their abuse, and many never do, due to embarrassment, shame, guilt, the fear of upsetting family members and the fear of being disbelieved or blamed. Abusers may also use threats.
• Child sexual abuse is NEVER the fault of the child!

What can we do to prevent child sexual abuse?

• Become familiar with behavioral signs & symptoms of abuse
• Keep yourself updated on information regarding sexual abuse
• Give information to families and children
• Share the information with your colleagues
• Child Abuse Committees can be set up at clinics and hospitals
• Work on rapport building with your patients, etc.

How can we tell that our student may be a victim?

The SUDDEN occurrence of any of the following problems for no other apparent reason:

• Various infections, itching, bleeding, urinary tract infections, bruises cuts, etc in genital area
• Bed-wetting, Excessive crying, eating problems
• Sleep disturbances. Including nightmares
• Age-inappropriate sexual awareness or sexual
• Activity with toys, peers, adults
• Clinging behavior or withdrawal/isolation
• Spending too much time with certain people secretively or alone
• Phobia/fears, especially of certain people or places
• Delinquent behavior (steeling, excessive lying, running away, etc.)
• Drop in academic performance
• Under-confidence, staying quiet a lot
• Aggression
• Self-mutilation
• Problems in relationships
• Suicidal ideation or attempts
• Behaving like a much younger child

What can we do if we know of or suspect child sexual abuse?

• Talk to the family, and/or if possible, the victim gently and in private about your concern, without blaming or expressing shock.
• Give the family the information you have.
• Encourage the family to get professional help or get it for them. Contact Aangan

You have the right to be aware & seek help!

Write to: Aangan, Rozan
House 258, Street 17, F-10/2, Islamabad
Tel: (+92 51) 221 5368 and (+92 51) 716 5365
From 9:00am - 5:00pm every day except Saturday and Sunday.
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