Characterization of child sexual abuse in the metropolitan area of Risaralda 2009–2010

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to characterize sexual abuse in children between 1 and 10 years old in the Metropolitan Area of Risaralda in the years of 2009 and 2010. A quantitative and descriptive research methodology was performed. The data in regard to sexual abuse was obtained from the database SPOA, Accusatory Oral Penal System of the Colombian Attorney General's Office, the population rates were calculated through the DANE projections. 117 complaints were reported in two years. The age in which more sexual offenses occur is in children 6 and 7 years old, 76.9% of the victims were girls and 23.1% boys, for every 3.3 sexual abuse complaints in girls, one corresponds to boys. The most reported type of sexual offenses is that of sexual acts against minors under 14 years old (82.05%). In regard to education, most of the victims did not conclude primary and secondary studies (49.57%) and (5.13%). The big numbers found show the need for preventive intervention programs that aim to reduce the high rates of abuse.