NCJ Number
149338
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 18 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1994) Pages: 409- 417
Date Published
1994
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examines the nature and prevalence of child sexual abuse internationally and the state of comparative research, using findings from a number of surveys.
Abstract
Through reviews of the literature and personal contacts with researchers in a variety of countries, the author identified approximately 24 epidemiological surveys conducted on large nonclinical populations outside of North America. The studies come primarily from English-speaking and Northern European countries, which may reflect both the level of resources for social science research in these countries and their access to the North American source material; however, studies have also been done in at least three Spanish-language countries (Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Spain) and in Greece. The studies vary in scope and quality and range from sophisticated national probability samples and household interview studies to local convenience sample studies of university students, using self-administered questionnaires. Considering that in the United States there have been only two and in Canada only one national survey, it is impressive that eight other countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden) have done surveys with national probability samples. All studies have found child sexual abuse rates in line with comparable North American research, ranging from 7 percent to 36 percent for women and 3 percent to 29 percent for men. Most studies found females to be abused at 1 1/2 to 3 times the rate for males. Few comparisons between and among countries are possible because of methodological and definitional differences; however, they clearly indicate sexual abuse to be an international problem. 2 tables and 55 references