The Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse in Out-of-home Care: Increased Risk for Children with a Mild Intellectual Disability
Saskia Euser
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Lenneke R.A. Alink
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Correspondence
Any correspondence should be directed to Lenneke Alink, Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, the Netherlands (e-mail: [email protected]).
Search for more papers by this authorAnne Tharner
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMarinus H. van IJzendoorn
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMarian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorSaskia Euser
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Lenneke R.A. Alink
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Correspondence
Any correspondence should be directed to Lenneke Alink, Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, the Netherlands (e-mail: [email protected]).
Search for more papers by this authorAnne Tharner
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMarinus H. van IJzendoorn
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMarian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background
Children without disabilities in out-of-home care have a higher risk of child sexual abuse [CSA (Euser et al. 2013)]. In this study, we examined the year prevalence of CSA in out-of-home care for children with a mild intellectual disability, and compared it with the prevalence in out-of-home care for non-disabled children and children in the general population.
Materials and Methods
Professionals (N = 104) from out-of-home care facilities reported cases of CSA that occurred in 2010 for the children they worked with (N = 1650).
Results
In out-of-home care for children with a mild intellectual disability, 9.8 per 1000 children were victims of CSA. This prevalence was significantly higher than in regular out-of-home care and in the general population.
Conclusion
Children with a mild intellectual disability in out-of-home care have an increased risk of CSA. Adequate education and support for both children and caregivers is necessary to recognize and prevent further sexual abuse.
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