INTRODUCTION: Child sexual abuse (CSA) adversely affects a child's growth and well-being. This study aimed to describe the profile of children presenting to a tertiary paediatric emergency department(ED) with CSA. METHODS: Children 0-16 years old presenting to KK Women's and Children's Hospital ED from June 2016 to August 2020 with sexual abuse were retrospectively reviewed. We performed a secondary analysis on girls and stratified them by age <13 and ≥13 years old. RESULTS: There were 790 patients who made 833 visits for CSA. Victims were predominantly girls (747, 94.8%) and perpetrators were predominantly men (763, 96.6%). The abuse first occurred before the age of 13 years in 315 victims (39.9%). For 468 (59.2%), more than one incident occurred before presentation. Compared to girls ≥13 years old, girls <13 years old were more frequently abused by a family member (47.7% versus 8.0%, CONCLUSION The findings highlight common characteristics of CSA cases, and can aid the future identification and protection of vulnerable children. The fact that most children presented after more than one incident suggests the need to more closely monitor and protect potentially at-risk children.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child Abuse ; Child Abuse, Sexual ; Child, Preschool ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Parents ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: School-aged children bear a lot of difficulties and discomforts brought about by the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the general well-being of children during the pandemic, how the children are coping with all the challenges, and parents' strategies to help their children cope METHODOLOGY: This study utilized a descriptive correlational research design with purposive sampling. Data was collected through an online survey. The standardized Kidcope-Child version was utilized to measure children's coping, while the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)™ 4.0 Short Form 15 Generic Core Scales was utilized to measure the children's well-being. RESULTS: A total of 134 parents participated in the study. No significant relationship was found between the age, sex, and coping strategies of the children, as well as between the age and well-being of children. Male children experienced more difficulty in physical functioning (p-value= 0.028), social functioning (p-value= 0.017), and overall well-being (p-value= 0.031) compared to female children. The computed mean for parents' helping strategies was between 2.67 to 2.78, which lies between the categories of sometimes (2) to always (3). CONCLUSION School-aged children were found to be using more positive coping strategies than negative coping strategies during the pandemic. They have “sometimes” to “almost no” experience of difficulty in terms of the five functions of well-being. Parents used the six fundamental tasks of parenting to help their children cope.
coping strategies ; well-being ; COVID-19 pandemic