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Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse generally refers to sexual acts, sexually motivated behaviors, or sexual exploitation involving children. Child sexual abuse includes a wide range of behaviors, such as:

• Oral, anal, or genital penile penetration
• Anal or genital digital or other penetration
• Genital contact with no intrusion
• Fondling of a child's breasts or buttocks
• Indecent exposure
• Inadequate or inappropriate supervision of a child's voluntary sexual activities
• Use of a child in prostitution, pornography, Internet crimes, or other sexually exploitative activities

Sexual abuse includes both touching offenses (fondling or sexual intercourse) and nontouching offenses (exposing a child to pornographic materials) and can involve varying degrees of violence and emotional trauma. The most commonly reported cases involve incest, or sexual abuse occurring among family members, including those in biological families, adoptive families, and stepfamilies. Incest most often occurs within a father-daughter relationship; however, mother-son, father-son, and sibling-sibling incest also occurs. Sexual abuse is also sometimes committed by other relatives or caretakers.¹

• Signs of sexual abuse
• Related resources

¹Adapted from J. Goldman, M. K. Salus, D. Wolcott, and K. Y. Kennedy. (2003). A coordinated response to child abuse and neglect: The foundation for practice. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved June 2006 from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/foundation/foundationc.cfm (back)

Selected Resources Maltreatment Types of Victims, 2006 Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2008) In Child Maltreatment 2006 Provides State-by-State data related to the major types of child abuse and neglect. What Is Child Maltreatment? Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (HHS) User Manual Series (2003) In A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: The Foundation for Practice Presents general definitions by type of maltreatment.

	Related Information Gateway Topics Child abuse & neglect: Defining child abuse & neglect Child abuse & neglect: Identifying child abuse & neglect Child abuse & neglect: Prevalence by type of abuse Child abuse & neglect: Perpetrators of certain types of abuse Child abuse & neglect: Risk factors for sexual abuse Child abuse & neglect: Impact of sexual abuse

Updated on April 4, 2008