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Child Abuse in Trinidad and Tobago - Part 2 Author: Dr Gopaul-McNicol Date: 2008-06-14 00:00:00 CHILD ABUSE IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – PART II Last week we gave a cursory overview on the historical significance of child sexual abuse in Trinidad and Tobago. This week it is important to examine how to detect and assess child sexual abuse. Operational Definition of Sexual Abuse In defining sexual abuse it is important to note that it is not easily described by victims and since the effects do not often emerge for years because of the reluctance of victims to report their abuse, violations may not always result in immediate consequences. Nevertheless, sexual abuse ranges from pornography which may or may not be tactile, so a child may not be touched but may be exposed to pornographic materials. Of course sexual abuse often involved touching such as fondling of the child genital areas, engaging in oral sex with the child or the child predator asking the child to engage in oral sex with him / her, sexual intercourse in the genital area or sexual intercourse in the anal area. The onset for the age range of sexual abuse varies from six months to 20 years. It occurs most often to children between ages 8 to 12 years. Sexual abuse is seen more often with boys under age 12 but with girls over age 12. Clinical Indicators of Children Who are Sexually Abused: • A child often does not come straight out and say “I was sexually abused”. He or she may say that “a friend in school told me her daddy or uncle touched her private” (using the name the child usually uses to describe the genital areas). • A constant touching of his / her body • A thorough understanding of sexual behaviors normally practiced by adults • Drawing or painting phallic symbols such as a penis (using of course the name the child normally uses) • Fear of being around certain adults • Excessive desire to be around certain adults • Suddenly in possession of large sums of money and gifts • Extremely withdrawn • Sleep disturbance – sleeping excessively or unable to sleep • Suddenly wanting to dress in a provocative way • Sudden seductive behavior • Sudden bedwetting or soiling of clothes when the child was fully toilet trained before • Sudden change in appetite – eating too much or eating much less • Sudden fears and anxieties like being afraid to sleep alone when he / she was comfortable doing so before • In the case of older children, sudden alcohol or drug abuse • In the case of teenage children, prostitution since there is a correlation between sexual abuse and sexual promiscuity It is critically important to note that because female children make up the greatest percentage of child sexual abuse, they receive the most attention almost to the exclusion of the many boys who are also sexually abused daily. Unfortunately, in this “macho” society when a boy describes being sexually abused, he is laughed at and called a “sissy”. He therefore learns to ignore his abuse resulting in the construction of a psychological closet of secrecy around him. We, in the COP are calling for all families to break the cycle and secrecy of child abuse by telling their story; this would bring to light this serious atrocity and help to weed out the child predators in our society. Next week we will discuss how to treat and intervene in the case of child abuse - in particular sexual molestation. Dr. Sharon-ann Gopaul-McNicol Clinical Psychologist s.gopaulmcnicol@coptnt.com Go to Editorials to view all parts of this series User Comments     GqsKcKFecd ngAm2Q bszjyacjsful, [url=http://kanmsuzvxkiu.com/]kanmsuzvxkiu[/url], [link=http://vqsiwfobjjsg.com/]vqsiwfobjjsg[/link], http://vshzlfhiwsyd.com/ pkFVJOlLVLkfJvbdX accutane 479 aciphex >:-DD valium twiz order doxycycline =-] FrTejawYzcCMgJXMXDj purchasing tramadol :[[ tramadol apap >:))) purchase xanax =-PP ultram er 07217 CGyaqJmLTmtQJ valium dosage :OOO what is ambien ehyhxl doxycycline =[ buy accutane %-OOO RqzqkWIUPcKuvzOaPh phentermine diet pills pnkix doxycycline 8DDD what does xanax look like %OO ItOEYeHQEq cheap propecia tramadol 45376 cialis for sale %(( buy tramadol online kno aJcIoApgdPgs tramadol 8[[ buy tramadol :OOO ultram as antidepressant :-P american life insurance dco cialis yprt taking cialis and viagra together cjrd valium =]] auto insurance pzmuj YHuDYnoswZ health insurance rspoe auto insurance jjomn health insurance adcu auto insurance 850 oOGaXBWZRpXDX jGNldf raqibpxacjsm, [url=http://cbjvmtgvqvxq.com/]cbjvmtgvqvxq[/url], [link=http://demacjtcvhjy.com/]demacjtcvhjy[/link], http://ninlejitchpd.com/

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