Child sexual abuse: impact on child behavior and perspectives for Occupational Therapy

Abstract

This is an integrative review carried out in 2019, through the Portal Regional da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, in Portuguese, between 2009 and 2019. It aimed to know the scientific production on the impact of sexual abuse in children and point out the possibilities of Occupational Therapy action. The following descriptors and their combinations were considered: “Abuso sexual” infantil (Child “sexual abuse”); “Abuso sexual” infantil AND comportamento (Child “sexual abuse” AND behavior); “Violência sexual” infantilsaúdepública/ “Violência sexual infantil” saúdecoletiva (Child “Sexual violence” public health/”Child secuaç violence” collective health); Abuso sexual infantil AND comportamento (Child sexual abuse AND behavior); “Violência sexual” infantilatençãoprimaria em saúde (Child “sexual violence” primary health care);  “Violência sexual” infantilsaúdepública/“Violência sexual infantil” saúdecoletiva (“Child sexual violence” public health/“Child sexual violence” collective health); “Abuso sexual” infância AND terapiaocupacional/“violência sexual” infantilTerapiaOcupacional (Child “Sexual abuse” AND occupational therapy/“sexual violence” childhood Occupational Therapy). From an initial survey of 238 articles, six articles were eligible and two thematic categories were constructed: Child Sexual Abuse: a perverse reality; and Child Sexual Abuse: consequences and reflections of Occupational Therapy. It was observed that the highest occurrence of sexual abuse occurs in the intra-family environment, with the victim's father, stepfather and brother as the main abusers. Abuse causes possible psychosocial traumas that directly interfere in the child's life, generating consequences in their development and behavior. Occupational therapeutic intervention can prevent psychological, social and emotional consequences that affect children who are victims of sexual abuse.