Information about Child Sexual Abuse

Child Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is one form of child abuse. It includes a wide range of actions between a child and an adult or older child. Often these involve body contact, but not always. Exposing one's genitals to children or pressuring them for sex is sexual abuse. Using a child for pornography is also sexual abuse.

Most sexual abusers know the child they abuse. They may be family friends, neighbors or babysitters. About one-third of abusers are related to the child. Most abusers are men. If you think a child may have been abused, it's important to report it.

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Child Sexual Abuse(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)

Also available in Spanish

Overviews

Child Sexual Abuse(National Center for PTSD)

Sexual Abuse(Children's Bureau)

Sexual Exploitation of Children(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms(Children's Bureau)

Also available in Spanish

Prevention/Screening

Parent's Guide to Internet Safety(Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse(Prevent Child Abuse America) - PDF

Sexual Abuse: Prevention(American Academy of Pediatrics)

Coping

Parenting a Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused: A Guide for Foster and Adoptive Parents(Children's Bureau)

What to Do If a Child Discloses Sexual Exploitation(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

Specific Conditions

What Is Child Pornography(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

What Is Extra-Familial Child Sexual Molestation?(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

What Is Online Enticement of Children for Sexual Acts(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

What Is Sex Tourism Involving Children?(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

What Is the Prostitution of Children?(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

Related Issues

Innocent Images National Initiative(Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Questions and Answers about Memories of Childhood Abuse(American Psychological Association)

Understanding Child Traumatic Stress(National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

Also available in Spanish

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Child Abuse, Sexual (National Institutes of Health)

Research

Childhood Sex Abuse Increases Risk for Drug Dependence in Adult Women (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Child abuse: stop the collusion and enhance the protection.

Article: Psychiatrist failed to follow guidance on interviewing child witnesses, GMC...

Article: Child sexual abusers' views on treatment: a study of convicted...

Child Sexual Abuse -- see more articles

Directories

Child Sexual Abuse: Contact Information for Related Organizations(Children's Bureau)

CyberTipline (Child Sexual Abuse)(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

National/State Sex Offender Registry(Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Organizations

American Academy of Pediatrics

Federal Bureau of Investigation

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Also available in Spanish

National Runaway Switchboard

Law and Policy

Definitions, Scope, and Effects of Child Sexual Abuse(Children's Bureau)

Laws Concerning Child Pornography(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

Laws Concerning Child Prostitution(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

Laws Concerning the Sexual Exploitation of Children(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect(Children's Bureau)

Statistics

National Runaway Switchboard Call Statistics(National Runaway Switchboard)

Children

What You Can Do to Prevent the Sexual Exploitation of Children: Basic Rules of Safety for Children(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

Youth and Teens Page(National Runaway Switchboard)

Men

Helping Yourself Heal: A Recovering Man's Guide to Coping with the Effects of Childhood Abuse(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF

Also available in Spanish

Male Sexual Victimization Myths & Facts(MaleSurvivor: National Organization against Male Sexual Victimization)

Women

Helping Yourself Heal: A Recovering Woman's Guide to Coping with Childhood Abuse Issues(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - PDF

Also available in Spanish