Children sexual violence in the key informants view

Abstract

doi: 10.5216/ree.v12i4.11699

The Sexual Violence of children and youth is a Public Health problem due to its complexity and difficult approach. To identify the cases of children sexual violence in South Triangle (Minas Gerais, Brazil) this descriptive, transversal nature and exploratory study was carried out through interviews with key-informants between July of 2008 and December of 2009. From the 26 municipalities investigated, the occurrence of sexual abuse and exploitation of children and youth was reported in 21 municipalities (80.8%). The majority of victims were women (83.2%), reaching almost 90% in some regions. The most frequent victims were children and adolescents aged between 13 and 17 years old (51.0%). The family is the most common locus of these cases occurrence of violence (68.6%). These results indicate the urgent need to find strategies that can give greater visibility to the phenomenon of children sexual violence to trace their revention mechanisms, in a joint action between professionals of different areas of expertise, especially those of health, as it is a complex public health problem.

Descriptors: Child sexual, Abuse; Sexual abuse; Integral health assistance to children and youth.