@article{ref1,
title="Sexual abuse of children. A comparative study of intra and extra-familial cases",
journal="Journal of forensic and legal medicine",
year="2009",
author="Magalhães, Teresa and Taveira, Francisco and Jardim, Patricia and Santos, Liliana and Matos, E. and Santos, Agostinho",
volume="16",
number="8",
pages="455-459",
abstract="The existing data suggest that individuals experiencing intra-familial abuse are affected more significantly than those experiencing extra-familial abuse. This study aims to identify possible differences between these types of abuse. A retrospective study was performed based on medico-legal reports related to children suspected of being sexually abused (n=1054). The results revealed that 40.2% of the suspected abuses were intra-familial and were significantly different than extra-familial cases with respect to the following: (a) the complainants were younger; (b) their relationship to the alleged abuser was closer; (c) the alleged abusers had higher rates of previous sexual abuse; (d) the suspected abuses were less intrusive physically; (e) there was less physical but more psychological violence; (f) the delay between the last abuse and the medico-legal examination was greater; and (g) there were fewer physical signs and DNA evidence (none in the great majority of cases). These results highlight aspects of intra-familial abuse that have been identified as factors influencing the severity of its consequences - physically, these instances of abuse were less intrusive but psychologically they were more intrusive than extra-familial abuse. This justifies the use of different strategies in the diagnosis and support for victims within the family.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1752-928X",
doi="10.1016/j.jflm.2009.05.007",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2009.05.007"
}