Community notification of child sexual abuse

There has been a heightened awareness of sexual abuse of children in Ireland in the past four years. One-hundred and forty seven cases of alleged sexual abuse notified to the Director of Community Care in 1986-1987 were reviewed retrospectively from the medical and social work notes. In 81 (55%) cases, sexual abuse was either confirmed or strongly suspected and these were analysed further. Victims were twice as likely to come from an urban as from a rural background. Girls were more likely to be abused at all ages, and this was particularly marked in the teenage years. Abusers were either intra-familial or known to the family in most cases. A surprising number were under 16 years of age. The study highlights the time commitment needed to manage this problem in the community and the need to develop services directed towards the young perpetrator. It also raises concern at the sizable percentage of children who, following investigation, are found not to have been abused.