The Evaluation of Suspected Pediatric Sexual Abuse

Emotional and Psychosocial Problems Encountered by Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused

The current descriptive analysis sought to identify the emotional and psychosocial problems experienced by children who have been sexually abused. Of 518 children with a history of sexual abuse who applied to the Child Protection Center, 443 were included in the study. Approximately 71.6% of children were subject to sexual abuse entailing penetration, whereas 69% were subject to sexual abuse not entailing penetration. After-effects reported included despair (46.5%), fear of reoccurrence of the incident (52.8%), distrust of others (36.8%), difficulty sleeping (32.7%), negative expectations about the future (32.1%), and self-blame (31.1%). Nurses have crucial roles and functions in the protection, improvement, treatment, and rehabilitation of the health of children who have been sexually abused. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 56(2), 37-43.].

Seriously clowning: Medical clowning interaction with children undergoing invasive examinations in hospitals

This qualitative study examined the subjective experience of children undergoing an invasive examination in the hospital when accompanied by a medical clown. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine such children and nine of their accompanying parents. The children were patients in two outpatient departments (Pediatric Gastroenterology and a Center for the Sexually Abused) in a hospital in Israel. Interviews were coded thematically using an Atlas.ti software program. Analysis of the interviews indicated that the intervention of the clown positively changed the children's perceptions of the hospital, of experiencing the examination, and of their life narrative. Medical clowns thus appear to be a central, meaningful, and therapeutic source for children undergoing invasive examinations in hospital, as well as for their parents. Therefore, it may be advisable to incorporate medical clowns as an integral part of medical teams performing invasive procedures and to include the clowns in all stages of the hospital visit.

Laughing through this pain: medical clowning during examination of sexually abused children: an innovative approach

This study examined the role of medical clowns during medical examinations of children who were sexually abused. Three case studies are described, illustrating diverse interactions among the victimized child, the medical clown, and the medical forensical examiner during medical forensic examinations held at the Tene Center for Sexually Abused Children, Poria-Pade Medical Center, Israel. The results indicated that medical clowns play a unique role both in lowering anxiety and fear among children before and during the unpleasant forensic examination as well as in mitigating potential retraumatization of the sexual abuse event resulting from the medical examination. The medical clown was found to assist in creating a pleasant and calm atmosphere, thus improving the child's cooperation during the examination.