One thousand fifty-nine children with a chief complaint of sexual abuse

Sexual assault victims (1,059) under the age of 17 were evaluated over a period of 44 months in a teaching, metropolitan county emergency room. The cases were recorded and reviewed by use of a protocol. The children ranged in age from 3 months to 16 years of age. Most were female (89%). The average age for all children was 8.3 years. There was no mean age difference between male and female victims 12 and under. Victims were 1.58 times as likely to be black, 0.22 times as likely to be Latin, and 0.96 times as likely to be white than the general population. Perpetrators were strangers in 13.8% of cases and close family (incest) in 28.1% of cases. A major finding is that 58.1% of the perpetrators were known to the child but were not family members. These episodes were severe with penetration occurring in 754 (71%) of the assaults. Cultures were positive in 1.5% of all cases. The medical and social response to these children's needs is noted to be inadequate.