This includes any type of sexual violence or inappropriate sexual activity with a child. This can include, but is not limited to sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, exposing a child to pornography or exhibitionism. Research indicates that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men were sexually abused before the age of 181. Some individuals use the term “incest” when identifying incidences of sexual abuse of children. Incest is often defined as sexual relations between individuals who are related by blood, marriage or social ties2. It is important to indemnify this behavior as abusive and therefore the term incest should not be used singularly to define child sexual abuse.
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006
2Courtois 1988
