Sexual abuse of children under 12 years of age: a review of 511 cases

• Published in: Child abuse & neglect 1988, Vol.12 (3), p.321-330
• Main Authors: DUBE, R, HERBERT, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child Abuse, Sexual - epidemiology; Child Sexual Abuse; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Incest; Infant; Male; Medical sciences; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quebec; Referral and Consultation - trends; Seasons; Sex Differences; Sex Factors; Victimology
• ISSN: 0145-2134; 1873-7757
• DOI: 10.1016/0145-2134(88)90045-2

In a retrospective study of 511 cases of alleged sexual abuse in children 12 years of age and under, data were analyzed with respect to the victim's age, sex, and the type of sexual abuse (intra- or extrafamilial). A total of 85.5% of the victims were female and 14.5% were male with ages ranging from 2 months to 12 years. The mean age of female victims was 6.8 years and that of male victims, 7.4 years. Most victims (68%) presented with histories of single assault by a known perpetrator (78%). Characteristics of abuse were found to be associated with the victim's age, sex, and relationship to the assailant. School-age victims were more likely to be abused by an individual outside the family or by a complete stranger. Older victims were also more likely to be involved in severe forms of sexual abuse (penetration, attempted penetration or oral-genital contact), associated with acts of abduction and with reports to the police. Male victims were more likely to be assaulted by a stranger, outside the home environment, and to suffer a more severe form of sexual abuse than female victims. Finally, extrafamilial sexual abuse was distinguished from intrafamilial sexual abuse insofar as it was more often a single episode, occurring outside the home environment, involving an act of abduction and physical force, and being reported to the police. La présente étude porte sur 511 enfants âgés de moins de 12 ans, victimes d'abus sexuel. Les informations sur l'âge et le sexe des victimes, de même que sur le type d'abus (intra- ou extra-familial) ont été analysées dans le cadre d'une étude rétrospective. Un total de 85.5% des victimes étaient de sexe féminin et 14.5% de sexe masculin. L'âge moyen des filles était de 6.8 ans et celui des garçons de 7.4 ans. La plupart des sujets (68%) étaient victimes d'un seul incident et l'agresseur était connu dans 78% des cas. Les enfants d'âge scolaire (> 5 ans) présentent un risque plus élevé d'être abusés par un agresseur extérieur á la famille tout en étant plus souvent victime d'un abus de niveau l (pénétration, tentative de pénétration ou contacts oro-génitaux). Les garçons sont plus susceptibles que les filles d'être agressés par un inconnu et de subir un niveau d'agression plus sérieux. L'abus extra-familial se distinque de l'abus intra-familial par l'expérience d'un seul épisode d'abus, la survenue de l'agression á l'extérieur du milieu familial, une plus haute incidence de rapt et de coercition physique et une déclaration á la p