Overview
The Child Abuse Team at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center defines sexual child abuse as sexual activity, which may include:
- Sexual touching and fondling
- Genital-to-genital contact
- Exposure to pornography or adult sexual activity
- Rape, attempted rape, and incest
- Exploitation of children
Sexual child abuse can be violent or non-violent in nature. It can occur within the family or outside of the home. Regardless of the type of sexual abuse, the victim often develops a variety of distressing feelings and thoughts and the long-term emotional and psychological damage can be devastating.
Statutory rape criteria vary somewhat from state to state, and include both age of the child (often under 14 years), difference in age between participants (usually three to four years), and capacity of the child to consent in situations of same age sexual activity.
If you suspect a child within the Greater Cincinnati area is being sexually abused, please contact the child's physician, 513-241-KIDS or the Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati Social Services Department, 513-636-4711.
Physicians are required by state laws to report suspected physical abuse or neglect to the legally mandated agency in their community.
