ABSTRACT
A child suffering sexual abuse may be fearful that other children will identify the abuse and harmfully cause ridicule. In the Department’s guide, the term sexual abuse is described as follows: sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, including prostitution, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. Sexual abuse may not result in a physical injury but may cause continual discomfort and pain. Symptoms may be: abdominal pain – with no obvious specific cause or recognisable injury, discomfort while running, walking or while seated, persistent pain or discomfort in the genital and anal area, and pain whilst urinating or defacating. A child experiencing sexual abuse becomes self-conscious about his or her own body and will fear being seen naked. Pregnancy can obviously be as a result of rape but also may result from willing sexual intercourse participation by the adolescent female.
