NCJ Number
231053
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 34 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2010 Pages: 289-295
Date Published
May 2010
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article describes the clinical approach to the recognition of overt and latent concerns of parents and children when children are evaluated for suspected sexual abuse by medical examiners.
Abstract
Clinicians know that the damage done by sexual abuse to children is rarely physical, and that it is the psychological and social impact of the abuse that has long-lasting and potentially devastating consequences. This article focuses on the overt and latent clinical issues that frequently arise during an evaluation of a child suspected of being sexually abused. The article describes 10 major concerns and worries for parents and children, and offers suggestions regarding a clinical approach to helping parents and children in the context of 5 critical variables that can affect how families respond: 1) the age of the child; 2) intra- versus extra-familial sexual abuse; 3) a parent's own experience of sexual abuse; 4) how supportive the nonoffending parents are to the child; and 5) the family's strengths and weaknesses and previous involvement with Child Protective Services. By addressing parents' and children's overt and latent concerns in the medical evaluation of suspected sexual abuse, clinicians not only provide care that extends beyond the forensic aspects of the evaluation, but also help families focus on important issues, such as ensuring the child's safety, acknowledging the feelings of family members, and ensuring counseling for the child and adults. Table and references