| Abstract [eng] |
Child sexual abuse is a serious and complex problem with long-term consequences for victims. This work examines the issue of child sexual abuse, its impact on the physical and mental health of the affected children. The first part of the work presents a literature review, which analyzes international and national studies on the prevalence of child sexual abuse and its long-term impact on victims and assesses the readiness of society and professionals to respond to this problem. The literature review shows that the prevalence of abuse in the world ranges from 15% to 28%, and a large proportion of cases remain unreported due to social norms, fear and an insufficient support system. Research shows that sexual abuse of children is an extremely complex phenomenon, often causing long-term emotional and psychological consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, behavioral disorders and suicidal thoughts, and negatively affecting social relationships and a person's self-esteem. The main problems encountered in recognizing and disclosing cases of child sexual abuse are discussed. One of the most important aspects is that victims of abuse often do not dare to disclose the violence due to fear, shame or distrust of adults. In addition, specialists do not always properly identify cases of abuse, especially if it was carried out in a close environment. Research reveals that the majority of abuse occurs from a person they know well, which makes reporting sexual abuse difficult due to psychological manipulation. If physical violence was not used, the child does not always understand that he or she has been sexually abused by a close person, which makes it even more difficult to identify abuse. An important part of the prevention of child sexual abuse is raising public awareness and training specialists. The study discusses preventive programs that promote children's education about personal boundaries, self-protection skills and ensuring safety at both the family and institutional levels. One of the most effective forms of assistance is cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps child victims overcome the consequences of the trauma. This work contributes to a better understanding of the problem, provides specific recommendations on how to improve the prevention and intervention of child sexual abuse, and emphasizes that the involvement of society and government institutions is necessary to protect children and ensure their well-being, so that victims of child sexual abuse receive the necessary help as early as possible to avoid long-term psychological and social consequences. |
