What are the consequences of sexual abuse for children?
The impact of sexual abuse on children can be severe. Emotionally, children may experience withdrawal, post-traumatic stress disorder, and poor school performance, in addition to feelings of shame, distrust, and guilt. Adults who were sexually abused as children can be at greater risk for suicide, criminality, educational problems, and substance abuse. Physically, children are at risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea, syphilis, or HIV. In addition, older girls are at risk of unwanted pregnancy.
