Children who have been sexually abused can be very challenging patients. In addition to medical examination and treatment, their needs include emotional, psychological, social, and legal support. Because every child suspected of having been sexually abused should have access to a skilled medical provider, this workbook and its accompanying videotape are designed to offer a learning experience for medical professionals (particularly physicians and nurse practitioners) who are beginning to work in the area of child sexual abuse.
The manual is divided into four sections: • Decision Points in the Evaluation of Child Sexual Abuse • The Medical History for Child Sexual Abuse • The Medical Examination for Child Sexual Abuse • Medical-Legal Issues in Child Sexual AbuseBased on clinical cases, each section of the text sets out learner objectives, presents cases, asks specific study questions, and then provides answers and discussion. Evaluating Child Sexual Abuse can be used as a quick home-based self-study training program and as a continuing reference, as well as in residency training for pediatric, obstetric/gynecology, family practice, or emergency medicine, and in postresidency child abuse fellowship training. Botash recognizes that the role of skilled medical providers goes beyond examining children and referring them to multiple services. It also involves talking to the children, working with their families, and coordinating the efforts of various community and private services. In addition, medical providers must be advocates for the children, working with human service agencies and the legal system, as well as teachers who help educate families and other service providers. This manual was written to help medical providers improve their skills in all these areas.
