Pediatria pre prax 5/2025
The potential for the prevention of child sexual abuse within the pediatric community
This article synthesizes current knowledge on child sexual abuse (CSA) with a focus on the untapped preventive potential of pediatric practice. After providing a definition of CSA according to the WHO and an overview of its forms and prevalence (including data from Slovakia), the authors discuss the profile of perpetrators and grooming mechanisms that increase children’s vulnerability. The core of the text is a review of specific and non-specific symptoms relevant to primary pediatric care, along with practical guidance on how to conduct a conversation with a child when CSA is suspected, in line with a trauma-informed and child-centered approach.
Keywords: child sexual abuse (CSA), pediatrics, specific and non-specific symptoms, conversation with the child, mandatory reporting, prevention
