IMPACT OF COVID-19 QUARANTINE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: EXPERIENCE OF CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of child sexual abuse reports and the affecting factors during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Material and Method: The study included 506 children and adolescents admitted to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). Case and control grou...

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Main Authors: Hatice Oksal, Ömer Büber, Alper Alnak, Hüseyin Zahid Kara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Istanbul University Press 2023-03-01
Series:İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/75C25BD7880340DCAE637B04D2A61180
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author Hatice Oksal
Ömer Büber
Alper Alnak
Hüseyin Zahid Kara
author_facet Hatice Oksal
Ömer Büber
Alper Alnak
Hüseyin Zahid Kara
author_sort Hatice Oksal
collection DOAJ
description Objective: We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of child sexual abuse reports and the affecting factors during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Material and Method: The study included 506 children and adolescents admitted to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). Case and control groups were determined according to the time of admission (first 15 months of the pandemic and 15 months before the pandemic). The data were obtained by retrospectively examining the files, forensic investigation reports, family evaluation reports, and other documents in the files of the children in the legal process. Result: Cases applied to CAC during the pandemic decreased by 16 percent. Sexual abuse reported by teachers and professionals such as public servants decreased from 30% to 4.7%. However, abuse through online platforms doubled. Finally, recurrent domestic abuse increased significantly during quarantine (p<0.001). Conclusion: The pandemic changed the way CAC is admitted and the specifics of abuse. The teachers and public servants reported fewer incidences of sexual abuse during the pandemic period. In addition, the form of abuse shifted to the online platform, and recurrent domestic abuses have increased. Professionals working in the field of sexual abuse should keep in mind that the possible effects of these changes may continue after the pandemic.
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publisher Istanbul University Press
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series İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi
spelling doaj-art-4a847c86f2cb47ca97ac3a0918fb29772025-08-20T02:15:38ZengIstanbul University Pressİstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi1305-64412023-03-0186215916510.26650/IUITFD.1230658123456IMPACT OF COVID-19 QUARANTINE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: EXPERIENCE OF CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERHatice Oksal0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1685-4468Ömer Büber1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9295-3789Alper Alnak2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3515-8217Hüseyin Zahid Kara3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4503-2703Sağlık Bakanlığı, Ankara, TurkiyeSağlık Bakanlığı, Ankara, TurkiyeSağlık Bakanlığı, Ankara, TurkiyeSakarya Üniversitesi, Sakarya, TürkiyeObjective: We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of child sexual abuse reports and the affecting factors during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Material and Method: The study included 506 children and adolescents admitted to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). Case and control groups were determined according to the time of admission (first 15 months of the pandemic and 15 months before the pandemic). The data were obtained by retrospectively examining the files, forensic investigation reports, family evaluation reports, and other documents in the files of the children in the legal process. Result: Cases applied to CAC during the pandemic decreased by 16 percent. Sexual abuse reported by teachers and professionals such as public servants decreased from 30% to 4.7%. However, abuse through online platforms doubled. Finally, recurrent domestic abuse increased significantly during quarantine (p<0.001). Conclusion: The pandemic changed the way CAC is admitted and the specifics of abuse. The teachers and public servants reported fewer incidences of sexual abuse during the pandemic period. In addition, the form of abuse shifted to the online platform, and recurrent domestic abuses have increased. Professionals working in the field of sexual abuse should keep in mind that the possible effects of these changes may continue after the pandemic.https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/75C25BD7880340DCAE637B04D2A61180child abusecovid-19social media
spellingShingle Hatice Oksal
Ömer Büber
Alper Alnak
Hüseyin Zahid Kara
IMPACT OF COVID-19 QUARANTINE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: EXPERIENCE OF CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi
child abuse
covid-19
social media
title IMPACT OF COVID-19 QUARANTINE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: EXPERIENCE OF CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
title_full IMPACT OF COVID-19 QUARANTINE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: EXPERIENCE OF CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
title_fullStr IMPACT OF COVID-19 QUARANTINE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: EXPERIENCE OF CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
title_full_unstemmed IMPACT OF COVID-19 QUARANTINE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: EXPERIENCE OF CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
title_short IMPACT OF COVID-19 QUARANTINE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: EXPERIENCE OF CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
title_sort impact of covid 19 quarantine on child sexual abuse experience of child advocacy center
topic child abuse
covid-19
social media
url https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/75C25BD7880340DCAE637B04D2A61180
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AT omerbuber impactofcovid19quarantineonchildsexualabuseexperienceofchildadvocacycenter
AT alperalnak impactofcovid19quarantineonchildsexualabuseexperienceofchildadvocacycenter
AT huseyinzahidkara impactofcovid19quarantineonchildsexualabuseexperienceofchildadvocacycenter