Follow up study eight years after diagnosis of sexual abuse

Aims-To study the outcome over an eight year period of children determined by paediatricians in 1989 as definitely or probably sexually abused. Method-Information was obtained on 140 of 148 children diagnosed in 1989 wh en aged 7 or less. Sources were hospital medical records and school health records. School health records of a comparison group of 83 children were al so examined. Results-A variety of problematic characteristics were found significantly m ore often in the abused group than the comparison group. These included sur name changes (30% v 2%), removal from home (25% v 1%), number of home addre sses (2.8 v 1.4), and schools attended (3.4 v 2.2). Other significant findi ngs included further abuse (35% v 0%), adverse behaviours (60% v 16%), educ ational problems (24% v 5%), chronic health problems (54% v 36%), and invol vement of mental health services (32% v 1%).