Examen físico en abuso sexual infantil en Europa, Estados Unidos y Latinoamérica

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, child sexual abuse has a high prevalence, due to the fact that 150 million girls and 73 million boys have been victims of some form of abuse before reaching 18 years of age in 2002. This makes it essential to carry out a correct medical and physical examination of the possible victims, in order to collect adequate samples and obtain a truthful clinical history. The objective of this work is to compare the approach of the physical examination of childhood sexual abuse in Europe, Latin America and North America with emphasis on the techniques of exploration and medical management. One of the differences found in the countries evaluated is the order in which the physical examination of the extragenital areas is performed. At the same time, it is evident that the three geographical regions share close observation of the genital area with the use of instruments, dyes or photographs.