Citation

López S, Faro C, Lopetegui L, Pujol-Ribera E, Monteagudo M, Avecilla-Palau À, Martínez C, Cobo J, Fernández MI. J. Child Sex. Abus. 2017; 26(3): 246-269.

Affiliation

Programmes for Sexual and Reproductive Care of Catalonia , Catalan Health Institute , Barcelona , Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10538712.2017.1288186

PMID

28471339

Abstract

This is a multicentric, descriptive, cross-sectional study of child and adolescent sexual abuse in women over 18 years in 24 primary care sexual and reproductive health centers in Catalonia. A total of 1,013 women were recruited; 345 (37.6%, 95% CI: 34.6-40.9) reported exposure to child sexual abuse: 32.4% disclosed being touched in a sexual way, and 9.6% reported completed sexual intercourse. Abuse occured before the age of 13 in 63.4% of respondents. The perpetrator was a relative or an acquaintance in almost 80% of cases. The risk was higher among women of Central or South American origin (OR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.33-6.12). Only 31.9% of women disclosed the abuse and 17.3% were blamed. Abuse that involved attempted or completed sexual intercourse was significantly associated with recurrence, physical violence, and revictimization in adulthood.

Language: en

Keywords

Reproductive Health Services; Spain; adults; female; primary health care; rape; recurrence