title: Working sensitively with child sexual abuse survivors: what female child sexual abuse survivors want from health professionals.
abstract: Adult survivors of child sexual abuse are high users of health and mental health services. Health professionals are well placed to improve health outcomes for them by delivering positive interventions post-abuse. The current study explored female child sexual abuse survivors' opinions on how health professionals could work better with child sexual abuse survivors. Sixty-one women, from 22-65 years old, who had been sexually abused before the age of 16 years, completed postal questionnaires in late 2004. A model was developed to guide the development of knowledge, skills, and practices for working more sensitively with child sexual abuse survivors. The model consisted of six chronological training steps: (1) knowledge on effects of child sexual abuse; (2) establishing the relationship with child sexual abuse survivors; (3) asking about child sexual abuse; (4) responding to disclosure; (5) sensitive provision of medical examinations; and (6) follow-up post examination. A systematic approach to training is proposed to assist with improving delivery of services sensitive to child sexual abuse survivor needs.
authors.affiliation: Rape Prevention Education, Whakatu Mauri, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.forename: Marewa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glover
authors.forename: Jeny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jülich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D035502:Trust; D055815:Young Adult