Nevin-Woods: Awareness Key in Fighting Childhood Abuse

By Dr. Christine Nevin-Woods
The Pueblo Chieftain
December 9, 2012

http://www.chieftain.com/health/nevin-woods-awareness-key-in-fighting-childhood-abuse/article_e28cd90a-3f43-11e2-a1b7-0019bb2963f4.html

Sexual abuse has been in the news and on the public’s mind since the Jerry Sandusky, Catholic Church and Boy Scout scandals.

According to research, at least 20 percent of American women and 5 percent to 10 percent of men experience some form of sexual abuse as children.

But fewer than half of abused children disclose their abuse before adulthood. Why does this occur? Abuse usually occurs in private, threats are common, and children are ideal victims and often feel guilty and believe they did something to cause the abuse.

Most abuse occurs by someone the child knows: a family member, neighbor, friend, respected adult. The terrible cases of abduction, rape and killing are rare compared to the pedophile who builds a relationship with the child/family or just has easy access. Pedophiles are very good at “grooming” their victims and working or volunteering where they have easy access to children. Children are usually not able to easily get away or understand if the threats are realistic or not.