Pattern of child sexual abuse by young aggressors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine whether sexual victimization of children by young aggressors differs from adult aggressors.


METHODS
A case review was performed on medical records of children less than 12 years of age referred in 1992 to the Child Protection Clinic at a tertiary care pediatric hospital.


RESULTS
Medical evaluation for sexual abuse was carried out on 316 children, 79% girls, 21% boys, mean age 6 +/- 2.7 years. Among known perpetrators, 39 were less than 16 years and 15 were between 16 and 19 years old. Young aggressors were more likely to abuse older female victims (p = .0009). They also were reported to engage in more genital/genital and genital/anal acts (p < .001). The aggressor's young age was found to be an important determinant related to a history of penetrative forms of sexual abuse (OR = 4.015, 95% C.I. 2.0581; 7.8319). Genital examination was specific for abuse (Adam's Class IV or V) in only 6.3% of victims, but significantly more often when the perpetrator was between 16-19 years old (p = .003).


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent aggressors appear to engage in more genital/genital and genital/anal sexual abuse than older aggressors. Victims of aggressors age 16 to 19 had a higher risk of having specific findings on the anal/genital examination.
Allard-Dansereau
C
C
Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Haley
N
N
Hamane
M
M
Bernard-Bonnin
A C
AC
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007179:Incest / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology