Preventing and diagnosing sexual abuse in children

Childhood sexual-abuse occurrences are life-altering events. Children are remarkably successful at keeping the facts of sustained abuse hidden. This results in delayed therapeutic intervention, or none at all. Traditionally, evaluating the symptoms of physical and emotional trauma has been the basis of screening for sexual abuse. This article presents an alternative method. The evaluation of some basic components of psychosexual development will make more evident a child's vulnerability to and/or experience with sexual abuse. A guide to parent-child education based on these same components of psychosexual maturity is also presented as a means of prevention. Screening and education are recognized as interdependent activities within this model of care.