Sexual abuse of children. A hospital-based study.

Five child victims of rape, 9 of indecent assault and 4 of incest presenting at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, over a 6-month period were investigated. The children ranged in age from 2 to 12 years, and the majority were female. In 65% of cases the offender was known to the child. Although all cases of rape were reported to the police, very few indecent assaults were reported. In 7 cases of sexual abuse there were no abnormal physical findings, but rape resulted in extensive physical injury. It is emphasized that regardless of the nature of the abuse, the child and the family involved are under a great deal of emotional stress, and management requires the expertise of a multidisciplinary team.