TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - Clinical characteristics of children presenting with a suspicion or allegation of historic sexual abuse
JO  - Archives of disease in childhood
A1  - Al-Jilaihawi, Sarah
A1  - Borg, Kevin
A1  - Jamieson, Katharine
A1  - Maguire, Sabine
A1  - Hodes, Deborah
SP  - 533
EP  - 539
VL  - 103
IS  - 6
N2  - INTRODUCTION: Police-recorded sexual offences against children and young people (CYP) increased 85% in the UK between 2010/2011 and 2014/2015. Many children delay disclosure, but little data are available regarding characteristics of CYP presenting with historic child sexual abuse (CSA). <br><br>AIM: To identify the clinical and CSA-related characteristics of CYP presenting with a suspicion or allegation of historic CSA. <br><br>METHOD: Data were collected on all CYP<17 years presenting with suspected or alleged historic CSA (ie, >3 days since last sexual assault in prepubertal children, >7 days pubertal girls) between October 2009 and November 2014. DATA COLLECTED: source and indication for referral, alleged perpetrator, physical findings. <br><br>FINDINGS supportive of CSA were peer reviewed for consensus agreement. ANALYSIS: χ(2) test, Fisher's exact test and logistic regression. <br><br>RESULTS: Among 249 CYP, presentation with physical/behavioural symptoms was associated with age <13 years (p<0.01), and alleged penetration with ages 13-17 years (p<0.01). Where known, time since alleged CSA ranged from 1 week to 13 months. Anogenital findings supportive of CSA were present in 7% of examined children (16/233), significantly associated with alleged penetration (p<0.01) and more likely with increasing age (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.72). Additionally, where tested, sexually transmitted infections (STI) were detected in 2.6% CYP (3/116). Alleged perpetrators were intrafamilial in 66% (126/190). No associations were identified between perpetrator type and gender (p=1.0), age (p=0.7) or indication for referral (p=0.35). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant time delay since the alleged CSA, this study highlights the persistence of anogenital findings supportive of CSA in 7% and STIs in 2.6% of CYP.<br><br>© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0003-9888
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2017-313676
ID  - ref1
ER  -