The extent of child sexual abuse in Botswana: hidden in plain sight

Comprehensive Management of Molluscum Contagiosum: Assessment of Clinical Associations, Comorbidities, and Management Principles

Despite its high global prevalence, molluscum contagiosum (MC) is not well understood outside of dermatology. Due to the potential self-limiting nature of MC, a common clinical approach in management is to wait for the papules to resolve spontaneously over several weeks to months, without medical intervention. However, this "watch and wait" approach increases risk of spreading the virus to others, extending the duration of the infection, and emergence of several psychosocial issues (e.g., anxiety, embarrassment, isolation). Molluscum contagiosum can be particularly challenging to treat in immunocompromised patients (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus [HIV], organ transplant recipients). This article reviews diagnostic characteristics and treatment options for MC, as well as associated risk factors and comorbidities. Treatment of immunocompromised individuals, in whom the risks of diffuse MC with persistence and spread are relatively high, is emphasized. The authors highlight the importance of actively treating the MC papules, as opposed to letting the virus "run its course" with no active intervention, with the goals of reducing the risk of spreading infection to others, shortening the duration of infection, and decreasing adverse psychosocial sequelae commonly associated with MC.

The Violence Against Children Surveys (VACS): Using VACS data to drive programmes and policies

The Violence Against Children Surveys (VACS) are nationally representative surveys of males and females aged 13-24 years, designed to measure the burden of sexual, physical, and emotional violence experienced in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. As of 2020, 22 countries implemented or are implementing a VACS. Since the first article using VACS data was published in 2009, several peer-reviewed articles have been published on the VACS. However, no publications have analysed the breadth of the work and how the data are represented in the literature. We conducted a review of the peer-reviewed research which used VACS data or mentioned the VACS. Between 2009 and July 2020, 50 peer-reviewed articles with data from 11 countries were published. Two studies (2/50; 4.0%) focused on boys, while 14 studies (14/50; 28.0%) focused on violence against girls. Fourteen articles focused on sexual violence (14/50; 28.0%), compared to three on emotional violence (3/50; 6.0%), and two on physical violence (2/50; 4.0%). Lastly, 52% of the articles (26 of the 50) were first authored by someone at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We identified the need to support local authors, and additional research on violence against boys, and physical and emotional violence.

Knowledge and Myths About Child Sexual Abuse in Mexican Women

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a terrible type of maltreatment that occurs in all countries and social statuses, but due to the shame and taboo that it creates, it is still riddled with myths and false beliefs that make it difficult for the population and the authorities to adequately determine its prevalence. The objective of this work was to explore what Mexican women know about CSA. The participants were Mexican women (N = 499) who filled out a questionnaire comprising ten items referring to truths and myths about CSA, indicating their degree of agreement with them on a Likert scale. The results showed that although Mexican women have quite adequate knowledge about CSA, they still hold wrong beliefs about the child's feelings toward the abuser or the child victim becoming an adult abuser. Likewise, differences were found in the myths and truths about CSA held by women under 40 and over 40 years of age.

Child Sexual Abuse in Mexican Women: Type of Experience, Age, Perpetrator, and Disclosure

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a type of maltreatment that occurs in practically all countries and social statuses. Due to the taboo and shame that surrounds it, CSA is a problem universally silenced despite the important consequences (both physical and psychological) that it has for the victim and their family. This work aimed to study the correlates of CSA in Mexican women. Our sample comprised 1058 women ranged from 18 to 73 years (M = 40.19; SD = 10.24). They completed an anonymous online survey including questions about all the different types of abuse, questions about who perpetrated it, at what age it happened, and whether the victim disclosed the abuse. Our results showed that, depending on the type of abuse, from 13.9% to 65.8% of the participants had suffered at least one episode of CSA throughout their childhood. The first episode typically occurred between 6 and 12 years old, with the perpetrator being a male. The youngest women reported higher rates of being shown pornography by a family member, whereas the oldest ones reported higher rates of exhibitionism by a stranger. Only 31.3% of the sample disclosed the abuse, usually to their mother or a peer. Differences among the correlates of the different types of abuse, the age of the victims, and the relationship with the perpetrator are discussed as well as the victims’ feelings of being believed when they disclosed the abuse.

Anal/anogenital lesion revealing child sexual abuse: A case series of an unusual situation in a black African setting

INTRODUCTION

Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains a big taboo in black Africa with an underestimated prevalence. In our context, the majority of cases are known by revelations of the child at least one year after the facts.

PRESENTATION OF CASES

We report three cases of CSA revealed by an anal/anogenital lesion requiring surgery. All of these patients were female with ages ranging from 20 months to 8 years. The lesions encountered were: an anal abscess, a fissure-in-ano with permanent anal mucosal eversion and a complex perineal tear including partial anal sphincter rupture with partial section of the rectovaginal septum. The outcome was favorable in all cases after surgery. The abuser was subsequently able to be identified after the statements of two of these three children.

DISCUSSION

Detection of anogenital lesions during a pediatric consultation should make practitioners aware of the possibility of sexual abuse. Surgical repair of these lesions can be simple or complex, requiring major reconstructions. In such cases, it's important to listening to the child's voice.

CONCLUSION

Anogenital lesions discovered during pediatric consultation must evoke sexual abuse. The silence and the taboo surrounding these abuses in Africa must be break down.

Combating homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia and transphobia: A liberating and subversive educational alternative for desires

The repression of human sexuality began anew in the twentieth century with a strengthening of patriarchal conceptions that pathologised sexual preferences, such as homosexuality, lesbianism and bisexuality, and medicalised transsexuality. Our educational approaches based on action research have reduced violence and empowered teenagers – girls and boys – and groups of teachers in different countries of the European Union. The diversification of assessment tools has resulted in an improved evaluation of processes and results. As a result, a high percentage of violence has been eliminated, accompanied by a scaling up of prevention and greater respect for sexual diversity. Critical-emancipatory action research is a viable alternative, as is the empowerment of men, not only of women.