J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2025 Oct 17;23(2):243-246. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v23i02.4753.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic crimes which leaves a deep mental and emotional scar in the victim’s life. Mostly girls are the victims of sexual assault whereas boys are also victimized but are few in number. This heinous incidence hampers the normal growth and development of a growing child making them vulnerable to psychiatric disorder, drug abuse disorder and anti-social conducts in adult. This study aims at identifying the incidence of child sexual abuse in different municipal areas of Kavrepalanchok district of Nepal Methods:This is a retrospective study in which data of sexual assault victim less than 18 years presented at emergency department of Dhulikhel Hospital, KUSMS through One-stop Crisis Management Center (OCMC) by the investigating authority was studied. The data from 2076/09/01 B.S. to 2080/12/30 B.S. was included in the study. Total of 127 cases were studied.
RESULTS: Mandandeupur rural municipality reported highest number of child victims of sexual assault i.e., 14.17%. Out of 127 victims, 4 of them were male and rests were female. Most of the victims (74.01%) were of 12-18 years age. Most of the perpetrators (51.18%) were strangers to the victim. The cases of sexual assault with children occurred mostly in the places other than house (45.66%). More than one fourth of the victims (26.77%) sustained some type of bodily injuries.
CONCLUSIONS: Sexual assault among children is predominant among females and mostly between the teenager age group with perpetrators being stranger to the victim Psychological screening of the potential pedophiles could lead to minimizing the incidence of child sexual assault and abuse. Psychosocial counseling to the victim is must to prevent the devastating psychological effects of sexual abuse.
PMID:41319074 | DOI:10.33314/jnhrc.v23i02.4753
