Childhood Trauma: Child Sexual Abuse

According to Faller and Kathleen ( 1993 ), sexual abuse of children is classified as any sexual assault of a child in which consent is not and cannot be granted. It involves sexually disabled or violent contact, depending n the individual’s age and the sexual contact between an adult and the child, regardless of whether the action is exploited or the child recognizes its sexual nature ( “Child Sexual Abuse”, 2008 ). Sexual encounter between an elder person and a young child can also be inappropriate to certain age makes it impossible for the younger child to provide prior consent. Sexual abuse include aggravated sexual assault, sexual touching and sexual intercourse ( “What is sexual abuse?”, 2016 ).

Child sexual exploitation covers a wide range of sexual crimes. First of all, sexual assault is a concept that describes acts in which a person targets a child for sexual enjoyment; for example, rape and aggravated sexual assault of an item. ( “The American Psychologis”, 1999 ). Whether the penetrate touch of a minor body is committed for the purpose of sexual pleasure, however mild, in their concepts of sexual harassment ( Widom, 1999 ). Second, sexual exploitation which is a descriptive word for crimes in which a juvenile has to be perpetrators, such as child-prostitution and child-pornography production or trafficking. Third, sexual treatment which is an expression that defines a possible child sexual predator’s social behavior, which aims to make a child more aware of their progress in a web chat room ( Williams, 2019 ).

Symptoms for child sexual abuse are general and vary. More severe signs can be correlated with early onset of addiction, chronic or repeated violence, parent incest, or use of aggression ( Messaman & Long, 2000 ). Factors of human experience, such as death, conception, marriage or divorce, may cause the occurrence of symptoms for a victim of sexual trauma ( Martin, Anderson, Romans & Mullen, 1993 ). The major aftereffects of sexual abuse in children include emotional responses, emotional responses like terror, embarrassment, anger, remorse, and self-censorship are normal, leading to depression and insecurity, Post Traumatic Stress effects, frequent or recurring memories of rape, as well as hallucinations or nightmares, the self-perception became corrupted, and victims also form a perception that they created and justified the sexual misconduct ( Roosa Reinholtz & Angelini, 1999 ).

In terms of physical effects, chronic and acute discomfort has been attributable to childhood sexual abuse, particularly abdominal or pelvic pain, lower pain tolerance, anxiety and depression, self-neglect and eating disorders ( Roth, Elana & Pelcovitz, 1997 ). This is four or five times more possible that those sexually abused have consumed alcohol and prescription substances. They often have more probability of drinking, becoming mentally inactive and being severely obese. In some cases, the infant’s sexual abuse can cause internal puncture wounds and bleeding, depending on the age and size of the kid and the degree of force used. In certain circumstances, disruption to inner organs can result in death ( Dinwiddie, 2000 ).

In terms of sexual effects, disruptions of appetite, pleasure and ecstasy may arise from the experience of sexual activity, violence, and pain. Victims are often more likely to have 50 or more mates in childbirth, have had a sexually transmitted infection, and participate in risk-taking habits that put them at risk of transmitting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ( Heath & Dunne, 2000 ). Sexual abuse is related to early teenage or unwanted pregnancy and trafficking. Gynecological conditions are frequent symptoms for patients, including chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, vaginism, and nonspecific vaginitis. Survivors might have less chance of having daily Mammograms, and it may receive little or no prenatal care ( Courtois, 1988 ). Sexual abuse can cause an infection and diseases that are sexually transmitted. The risks of infection can increase regardless of the age and size of the child due to the lack of adequate seminal fluid.

Kids may undergo treatment in one of many cases, including formal investigation, custody of children, disruptive behaviour and child care services. Family therapy, group sessions and individual counseling are three primary rehabilitation approaches for children and teens ( Pereda, Guilera, Forns & Gomez, 2009 ). That either course is being used depending on a number of factors to be measured individually. Therapy of young kids, for example, generally demands strong parenting and can benefit from family counseling. Youth are tending to be more autonomous; person or group of people therapy is available to them ( Finkelhor, 1994 ). The approach often varies during treatment; community counseling, for example, is seldom used during earliest stages, because the topic is very sensitive and humiliating. The diagnosis and intervention reaction considerations include the form and nature of the sexual encounter, the duration and age and the families of the child’s birth ( Walsh & DiLilo, 2011 ). Kids impacted by sexual abuse are influenced by a range of conditions, including silence, indifference, isolation, capture, delayed admission, and confused testimony ( Noll, Tricket, Susman & Putman, 2006 ).