Factors associated with reporting delays and severity of childhood sexual abuse in São Paulo, Brazil

Characterization of male sexual assault in the state of São Paulo, Brazil: an epidemiological study from 2014 to 2017

Sexual violence is a pervasive global issue that affects individuals of all genders. However, the experiences of male survivors have often been marginalized and inadequately represented. Male rape, which encompasses several forms of sexual violence against men, remains a sensitive and under-discussed topic in academic literature and public discourse. This study presents a descriptive cross-sectional analysis based on data collected from the Legal Medicine Institute (IML-São Paulo, Brazil) between 2014 and 2017. The analysis includes 7386 reports of sexological examinations performed on male victims of alleged rape. The analysis reveals that a significant majority of rape reports involved victims under the age of 12 or 14, which is considered vulnerable rape by the Brazilian legislation. Regarding the examination of reported cases of abuse against men, it was observed that only the minority of these cases exhibited visible injuries consistent with rape or tested positive for the presence of spermatozoa in the perianal region. Since the absence of visible injuries or spermatozoa does not negate the possibility of rape, this work highlights the challenges in obtaining conclusive evidence, necessitating a comprehensive approach to investigate and prosecute these crimes, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all survivors of rape, irrespective of their gender.

Factors related to delayed disclosure among victims of child sexual abuse in Singapore

BACKGROUND

Delayed disclosure is a prevalent and serious issue among victims of child sexual abuse (CSA). Identifying the factors associated with delayed disclosure can identify the profile of children who are at risk of delaying disclosures and inform measures to facilitate timely disclosure.

OBJECTIVE

The current study represented a pioneering effort to investigate factors that are related to disclosure of CSA in Singapore. It examined the influence of various victim and abuse characteristics on the time taken for a victim to disclose CSA.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A total of 252 CSA cases that were referred to the psychology department of Singapore's Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) from 2017 to 2021 were analyzed.

METHODS

Cases were coded for the study variables and multivariate Cox regression was conducted to analyze the impact of each variable of interest on the time taken to disclose the abuse.

RESULTS

It was found that the following sub-populations of CSA victims were associated with delayed disclosure: younger victims, female victims (as compared to male victims), victims with higher severity of sexual abuse (e.g., forced intercourse), and victims who were abused by in-home caregivers (as compared to acquaintances).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from the study generated practical implications to help reduce the time victims take to disclose CSA in the Singaporean context.

Impacts of child sexual abuse: The mediating role of future orientation on academic outcomes

BACKGROUND

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) has significant impacts on an individual's physical and mental well-being including substance use, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, relationship issues, as well as sexual revictimization in adulthood. Positive future orientation is associated with higher educational outcomes and successful goal attainment, but CSA survivors have lower educational attainment and less employment opportunities leading to less financial security in adulthood.

OBJECTIVE

Our study seeks to examine whether future orientation mediates the relationship between CSA and academic outcomes using data from the Kaplan Longitudinal and Multigenerational Study (KLAMS).

PARTICIPANTS & SETTING

KLAMS is a U.S. based panel study which captures information about the mental health, relationships, academic outcomes, and deviant behavior of two generations of family members at multiple points in time. In the present study, we use data from two separate interviews with the children (N = 2084) of the original respondents.

METHODS

We estimated a series of regressions using generalized structural equation modeling to examine the relationship between child sexual abuse, future orientation, and three different types of academic outcomes.

RESULTS

Youth who experienced sexual abuse had lower grades in school, were more likely to drop out, and had lower levels of education than children with no history of sexual abuse. Negative future orientation mediated the relationship between child sexual abuse and all three outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

In support of existing research, we found child sexual abuse has a negative impact on positive future orientation, and positive future orientation contributes to better academic outcomes.

Prevalence, Characteristics, and Factors Associated With Sexual Violence in Adulthood Among Brazilian MSM

Most studies of sexual violence are with women, and although men who have sex with men (MSM) is the group of the men that has been most investigated for sexual violence, there are still several questions to be answered about sexual violence and sexual revictimization among MSM. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of sexual violence in different stages of life and identify factors associated with sexual violence in adulthood among Brazilian MSM. We conducted an analysis with data from the study conducted in 2016 with 4,176 MSM from 12 Brazilian cities recruited through respondent-driven sampling (RDS), who answered a survey to a set of questions, among which some specific about sexual violence. Most participants were under 25 years old (56.5%), with more than 12 years of schooling (71.2%), mixed race (40.8%), single (86.2%), and belonging to some religion (50.9%). The lifetime prevalence of sexual violence was 20.3%. In our analyses, having experienced sexual violence in childhood and adolescence increased the odds of experiencing sexual violence in adulthood (prevalence ratio ratios [PRR] 4.93 (95% CI [1.99, 12.21]), as did experiencing physical violence (PRR 1.99; 95% CI [1.07, 3.71]) and receiving money for sex (PRR 2.26; 95% CI [1.17, 4.36]). In addition to violence in childhood and adolescence being risk factors for sexual violence in adulthood, we also observed that half of the sample experienced sexual violence repeatedly, characterizing sexual revictimization. It is important that health services are prepared to receive boys and men victims in order to reduce the chances of revictimization and other outcomes.

The religious implications of being sexually abused by a rabbi: Qualitative research among Israeli religious men

BACKGROUND

Clergy perpetrated sexual abuse (CPSA) is a widespread phenomenon, with many consequences for the victims. To the best of our knowledge, no research has focused on the religious consequences for Israeli Jewish religious men who were sexually abused by rabbis in their adolescence or emerging adulthood.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the implications of CPSA for the religious faith, practice, and attitude towards rabbis among sexually abused Israeli religious men.

METHODS

Based on a constructivist-phenomenological paradigm, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with eight formerly and/or currently still religious men who had been abused by rabbis.

RESULTS

Three main themes regarding religious consequences, emerged from the findings: the impact of CPSA on the religiosity of the victims; the effect of being sexually abused by a rabbi on victims' attitudes toward other rabbis; and the process of finding a new rabbi after the abuse.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary study opens a window onto the complex nature of this type of sexual abuse and its religious consequences. The unique findings regarding the range of religious implications are not consistent with previous studies about Christian victims. These findings contribute to the understanding of this distinctive form of abuse, for establishing intervention techniques that will assist the victims and for additional research.

Characterization of Adolescent Pregnancy and Legal Abortion in Situations Involving Incest or Sexual Violence by an Unknown Aggressor

Background and Objectives: In pregnancies resulting from incest, the adolescent maintains close family and emotional relations with the aggressor, different from what occurs when pregnancy results from sexual violence by strangers. Evidence indicates that this type of relationship with the aggressor may interfere in the dynamics of such violence and the adolescent’s access to health services. Materials and Methods: The objective of this research was to describe and correlate aspects associated with pregnancy when resulting from rape of adolescents in situations of incest; rape when perpetrated by an unknown aggressor and an abortion as allowed by law was sought. Method: A cross-sectional, epidemiological study of adolescents treated at the Pérola Byington Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil, bringing an allegation of pregnancy, resulting from sexual violence and a request for abortion as allowed by law. A total of 311 adolescents, being 134 in the “pregnancy from incest group”, and 174 in the group “pregnancies resulting from rape by a stranger” were considered under the study variables; relationships were investigated using the chi-squared test and Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: The study included 137 cases (44.1%) of pregnancy resulting from incest, and 174 cases (55.9%) of pregnancy from rape by a stranger. In cases of incest, a declaration of religion (92.0%) was significantly more frequent, and the adolescents were approached in spaces considered safe or private (92.7%); the aggressor taking advantage of the adolescent’s legal condition of vulnerability as a function of age (83.3%). Cases of incest presented a lower median adolescent age and greater gestational development, with gestations being ≥ 13 weeks prevailing. Conclusion: Cases of pregnancy by incest presented indicators suggesting both proximity and relationship with the aggressor, and pregnancy at a very early age, which postponed the adolescent’s procurement of health service, and interfered negatively with abortion assistance as allowed by law.