Exposure to sexual abuse in childhood in third grade students attending high schools in West Herzegovina Canton [Article in Croatian]

Abstract

Objective - To determine frequency and characteristics of sexual abuse in childhood high school students from West Herzegovina Canton

Material and methods - An anonymus retrospective study was conducted on an appropriate sample of 458 third-grade high school students (both sexes) from West Herzegovina Canton. Exposure to sexual abuse and characteristics of sexual abuse were investigated using subscales of sexual abuse, which is part of the Child Maltreatment Questionnaire.

Results - Out of 458 students, 13.2% girls and 24.2% boys were sexually abused before the age of 14. Abusers are often friends or acquaintances, unknown people and members of the wider family. The greatest risk of exposure to sexual abuse is at ages between 11 and 14 years. Friends are people who are the respondents most trust. Shame and fear are the most common reason why respondents do not seek help or avoid confiding in someone. It is estimated that 30% of girls and 3.8% of boys need professional help due to consequences of maltreatment.

Conclusion - Sexual activity without contact, and sexual activity over or under clothing are the most common forms of sexual abuse. Abusers are usually people of the opposite sex, friends or acquaintances, unknown people and members of the wider family. Girls are more likely to confide in someone or seek help than boys. Friends are the people that young men and women entrust with their most traumatic experiences.