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What is child sexual abuse?

Child sexual abuse covers a range of illegal sexual activities, including:

  • possessing images of child sexual abuse

  • forcing a child to strip or masturbate

  • engaging in any kind of sexual activity in front of a child, including watching pornography

  • taking, downloading, viewing or distributing sexual images of children

  • encouraging a child to perform sexual acts in front of a webcam

  • not taking measures to protect a child from witnessing sexual activity or images

  • inappropriate sexual touching of a child, whether clothed or unclothed

  • penetrative sex

Both boys and girls can be victims of sexual abuse, but girls are more likely to be abused.

Consequences of Child Sexual Abuse 

Experiencing child sexual abuse is an adverse childhood experience that can affect how a person thinks, acts, and feels over a lifetime, resulting in short- and long-term physical and mental/emotional health consequences.
Physical health consequences include:

  • sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

  • physical injuries

  • chronic conditions later in life, such as heart disease, obesity, and cancer

 

Mental health consequences include:

  • depression

  • posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms

 

Behavioral consequences include:

  • substance use/misuse including opioid misuse

  • risky sexual behaviors, meaning behaviors that could result in pregnancy or STIs such as not using condoms or other contraceptives, or sex with multiple partners

  • increased risk for suicide or suicide attempts

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