A CROSSSECTIONAL STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF THE CHILD SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN IN LAHORE

Introduction: Child sexual abuse is a problem occurring at alarming rates in our society. Sexual violence defined as any unwanted attention or advances regarding sexual gratification, favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual violence can involve many activities including fondling, touching or kissing of genitals or other area's of the body. It include penetration with penis, digit or object as well as exposing genitals or sexual material to a child. Talking to a child inappropriately, graphically, and explicitly about sex, asking a child to touch their own genitals or another persons and non-forced sex with an underage child is a form of sexual violence. Sexual abuse can occur anywhere, even in the family or community where the victim falls prey to an abuser. Child abuse constitutes a violation of the most basic rights of children and adolescents, which are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) exhorts states that all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent, legal guardian or any other person who has the care of the child. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in school going children between the age group 10 to 16 years of age in district Lahore using non probability purposive sampling. A sample size of 50 students from a selected school was included in the study using random sampling technique. Demographic data of the children including age, gender and socio-economic class was recorded using a performed performa. Results: The incidence of penetration with penis, digital or object is 22 percent of all child violence cases. Whereas, exposing genitals to child and expose child to sexual materials or pornography include 55 and 44 percent of positive cases. Inappropriate talking about sex to child is highest percentage of 55 % in our study. Provoke child to self touch involve in 22 percent of all child violence cases. While non forced sex with child formulate about 20% of cases. It is noted that most child was probed to more than one form of child abuser at a time