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Medical Advances in Child Sexual Abuse

NCJ Number
236993
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 20 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2011 Pages: 481-485
Author(s)
Randell A. Alexander
Date Published
October 2011
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This special issue details state of the art practice in medical issues around child sexual abuse.
Abstract
This volume is the first of a two-part special issue detailing state of the art practice in medical issues around child sexual abuse. The six articles in this issue explore methods for medical history evaluation, the rationale for when sexual examinations should take place, specific hymenal findings that suggest a child has been sexually abused, the healing of genital injuries, approaches to interpretation of medical findings, and the neurological harm of sexual abuse. From the initial history to the process of the medical examination, the mechanics of what a genital examination might show, and the neurobiological consequences, it is demonstrated that the harm of sexual abuse is has more effect on the brain than the genital area. (Published Abstract)