Presumption of sexual abuse in children and adolescents: vulnerability of pregnancy before 14 years

Rev Bras Enferm. 2020:73 Suppl 4:e20190143. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0143. Epub 2020 Jul 15.
[Article in Portuguese, English]

Abstract

Objectives: to investigate the presumption of sexual abuse through the records of live births with mothers up to 13 years of age.

Methods: this is a quantitative study, with an ecological design, carried out in Maceió, with data from the Brazilian Live Birth Information System from 2009 to 2017, based on Law 12,015/2009, on sexual crimes against the vulnerable, applying the presumption of violence in children under 14 years old.

Results: nine hundred fifty-three births of children with mothers aged 10 to 13 years were recorded; 1.3% were reported as victims of sexual abuse; 20.3% declared to be married or living in a stable relationship. Records were concentrated in 04 neighborhoods, Guaxuma, Benedito Bentes, Tabuleiro do Martins, and Jacintinho.

Conclusions: there was a prevalence of pregnancy and marriage in girls under 14 years of age and scarcity of reporting presumed sexual abuse by health professionals.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences / statistics & numerical data*
  • Brazil
  • Child
  • Female
  • Health Personnel / psychology*
  • Health Personnel / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Researcher-Subject Relations / psychology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Offenses / prevention & control*
  • Sex Offenses / statistics & numerical data
  • Vulnerable Populations