ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the issue of disclosing abuse and, more specifically, sexual abuse. It then examines. Prevalence refers to the number of people in a given population who have experienced child abuse. As prevalence covers the whole life, rates are generally assessed by so-called retrospective studies using self-reported questionnaires in which the participant is asked to report his/her experience for the period covering childhood and adolescence. In addition, incidence studies observe fewer cases of sexual abuse than prevalence studies because the former cover a much more limited period than the latter, which cover the whole of life before adulthood. Incidence rates are also likely to vary by country and by child protection law or system. Several of the factors were examined, including the age and the gender of the child, the type of abuse, and internal factors, such as fear of consequences, perception of responsibility, and the effect on the confidant and those around him/her.
