Despite the prevalence of abuse in society, child sexual abuse is not adequately dealt with in professional schools. Increasingly, we know that several profound, long-term effects may result from childhood abuse and in turn, may influence current encounters with health care providers without the awareness of one or both parties. Some of the long-term effects of child sexual abuse include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, psychological problems, interpersonal problems, self-abuse, pain, and other somatic complaints. In an effort to provide appropriate care for survivors, it is essential for health care providers to understand the origin of somatic symptoms, and to consider an abuse history in patients with multiple complaints without an organic cause.
Studies have found that health examinations requiring touch by a person in a position of power can present difficulties for women with a history of child sexual abuse and in some cases may even trigger PTSD symptoms. With prevalence rates as high as one third of women, it is important to retain a high level of awareness regarding the possibility of an abuse history with all patients.
Our research study 1
showed that health care providers would like more information and
specific way of addressing child sexual abuse issues in practice.
There are many ways you as a provider can make the medical encounter
easier for both you and patients with an abuse history. These suggestions
are categorized by health care providers groups:
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1. Tudiver, S.,McClure, L., Heinonen, T., Scurfield,
C. & Kreklewetz, C. (2000).Women Survivors
of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Knowledge and Preparation of Health Care Providers
to Meet Client Needs. Report of research for the Women's Health
Bureau of Health Canada through the Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence.
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