Abstract

SANCHEZ ESPINOSA, Encarna María  and  MARTIN SANCHEZ, Irene. Characteristic of a sample of children with suspicion of sexual abuse in an Andalusian specialized device. Psychosocial Intervention [online]. 2007, vol.16, n.3, pp.339-359. ISSN 2173-4712.

Objective: Describe the characteristics of alleged sexual abuse cases with the assessment of a team of specialists. Provide information about the source of detection, type of abuse, legal-administrative situation of children, characteristics of children and their families, relation between children and offender and characteristics of offenders. Method: A retrospective analysis was performed of 198 cases assessed between 1998 and 2001. Information was collected covering 250 children, 198 mothers, 350 offenders’ victim’s couples and 277 offenders. Information was obtained concerning 128 variables. Results: Mothers were the most frequent source of detection. The allegation of intrafamily sexual abuse prevails. Slightly less than half of the children came from child protection services. A third were at pre-school age when supposed abuse occurred. Almost half no longer lived with their natural father. The most common abusive behaviour consisted of touching of genitals. The most frequent relation between the supposed victim and offender was that of biological father. Among supposed offenders there was a prevalence of males aged between 18 and 40. Conclusions: The study confirmed the presence of several characteristics seen as risk factors in the literature. The greater representation of some of these factors is discussed, as are the similarities or differences with those found in child victims of physical/psychological abuse and/or sexual abuse.

Keywords : Suspects sexual abuse; Victim child; Family; Caretaker; Offenders.

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