NCJ Number
173664
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 22 Issue: Dated: Pages: issue (June 1998)-465
Date Published
1998
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Recognizing the limitations of past medical research in the field of child sexual abuse and the controversial nature of medical findings in child sexual abuse cases, a conference was held in May 1997 to identify future medical research priorities.
Abstract
Medical research in the field of child sexual abuse has been conducted for less than two decades, and the focus has largely been on anogenital anatomy in normal and abused children and on sexually transmitted diseases. Much has been learned from research and experience over the past 20 years, but there are still significant gaps in knowledge that compromise clinical and medicolegal practice. In turn, these gaps have had an impact on the well-being of suspected child sexual abuse victims. To fill some of these gaps, the Collaboration for Research on the Sexual Abuse of Children convened a conference to identify future medical research priorities. These priorities are outlined according to the following categories: epidemiology, triage and referral, behavioral manifestations, medical consequences, technical conduct of medical examinations, emotional impact of medical examinations, normal anogenital anatomy, anogenital trauma, sexually transmitted diseases and forensic impact of medical findings. The author indicates medical research in the field of child sexual abuse will require scientific credibility, political sophistication, and tenacity. 178 references