Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which a child is abused for the sexual gratification of an adult or older adolescent. In addition to direct sexual contact, child sexual abuse also occurs when an adult exposes their genitals to a child, asks or pressures a child to engage in sexual activities, displays pornography to a child, or uses a child to produce child pornography.

Approximately 20% to 25% of women and 5% to 15% of men were sexually abused when they were children. Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims: 30% are relatives of the child, most often fathers, uncles or cousins; around 60% are other acquaintances such as friends of the family, babysitters, or neighbors; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases. Most child sexual abuse is committed by men; women commit approximately 14% of offenses reported against boys and 6% of offenses reported against girls. Most offenders who abuse pre-pubescent children are pedophiles, however a small percentage do not meet the diagnostic criteria for pedophilia.

Effects of child sexual abuse include short and long term effects. Sexual abuse by a family member is a form of incest, and can result in more serious and long-term psychological trauma, especially in the case of parental incest.

. Psychological, emotional, physical, and social effects include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, eating disorders, poor self-esteem, dissociative and anxiety disorders, neurosis, chronic pain, sexualized behavior, school/learning problems, and behavior problems including substance abuse, destructive behavior, criminality in adulthood and suicide.

. Depending on the age and size of the child, and the degree of force used, child sexual abuse may cause infections, sexually transmitted diseases, or internal lacerations. In severe cases, damage to internal organs may occur, which, in some cases, may cause death.

Offenders are categorized into two groups, "fixated" and "regressed."

. Fixated abusers have a primary attraction to children.
. Regressed abusers have largely maintained relationships with other adults, and are even married however a stressor caused them to seek children as a substitute.

. Situational: do not prefer children, but offend under certain conditions.
. Morally indiscriminate: all around sexual deviant, who may commit other sexual offenses unrelated to children.
. Naive/Inadequate: often mentally disabled in some way, finds children less threatening.
. Preferential: has true sexual interest in children.
. Mysoped: sadistic and violent, target strangers more often than acquaintances.

This is when a prepubescent child is sexually abused by one or more other children or adolescent youths, and no adults are directly involved. Another act includes any sexual activity between children that occurs without consent, without equality, or as a result of coercion, whether the offender uses physical force, threats, trickery or emotional manipulation to compel cooperation. When sexual abuse is perpetrated by one sibling upon another, it is known as "intersibling abuse", a form of incest.

. Child tells you he/she was sexually mistreated.
. Child has physical signs such as:

. Difficulty in walking or sitting.
. Stained or bloody underwear.
. Genital or rectal pain, itching, swelling, redness, or discharge
. Bruises or other injuries in the genital or rectal area.


. Child has behavioral and emotional signs such as:

. Difficulty eating or sleeping.
. Soiling or wetting pants or bed after being potty trained.
. Acting like a much younger child.
. Excessive crying or sadness.
. Withdrawing from activities and others.
. Talking about or acting out sexual acts beyond normal sex play for age.
. Disagreement between the child's and the parent's explanation of the injury (if one of the parents is the abuser).
. Unreasonable explanation of the injury.

. Families who are isolated and have no friends, relatives, church, .
. Parents who tell you they were abused as children.
. Families who are often in crisis (have money problems).
. Parents who abuse drugs or alcohol.
. Parents who are very critical of their child.
. Parents who are very rigid in disciplining their child.
. Parents who show too much or too little concern for their child.
. Parents who feel they have a difficult child.
. Parents who are under a lot of stress.

• Take the child to a quiet, private area.
• Gently encourage the child to give you enough information to evaluate whether abuse may have occurred.
• Remain calm so as not to upset the child.
• If the child reveals the abuse, reassure him/her that you believe him/her, that he/she is right to tell you, and that he/she is not bad.
• Tell the child you are going to talk to persons who can help him/her.
• Immediately report the suspected abuse to the proper local authorities