The international epidemiology of child sexual abuse

Child Abuse Negl. 1994 May;18(5):409-17. doi: 10.1016/0145-2134(94)90026-4.

Abstract

Surveys of child sexual abuse in large nonclinical populations of adults have been conducted in at least 19 countries in addition to the United States and Canada, including 10 national probability samples. All studies have found rates in line with comparable North American research, ranging from 7% to 36% for women and 3% to 29% for men. Most studies found females to be abused at 1 1/2 to 3 times the rate for males. Few comparisons among countries are possible because of methodological and definitional differences. However, they clearly confirm sexual abuse to be an international problem.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / epidemiology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Gender Identity
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Social Environment
  • Social Values