The tip of the iceberg. Incidence of disclosed cases of child sexual abuse in Switzerland: results from a nationwide agency survey

• DOI: 10.1007/s00038-013-0498-6
• Publication Date: 2013-07-24T19:29:15Z
• Authors: Thomas Maier; Meichun Mohler-Kuo; Markus A. Landolt; Ulrich Schnyder; Andreas Jud
• Keywords: Male; Adolescent; Child Welfare; 610 Medicine & health; 142-005 142-005; Government Agencies; Sex Factors; 5. Gender equality; Humans; Child; Data Collection; Incidence; 05 social sciences; Age Factors; Infant; 2739 Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; Child Abuse, Sexual; 16. Peace & justice; 3. Good health; 10057 Klinik für Konsiliarpsychiatrie und Psychosomatik; 10036 Medical Clinic; Child, Preschool; Female; 0509 other social sciences; Switzerland

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is considered a major risk factor for a variety of health problems both in childhood and in later adult life. While population-based surveys aim to establish the real incidence rates of CSA by interviewing potential (past) victims, agency surveys focus on the rates of CSA reported to the authorities.We conducted a nationwide agency survey of CSA in Switzerland. Data were collected from 350 agencies through an anonymous online form during a 6-month period. For data collection, we used a modified version of the case reporting form translated from the American National Incidence Study (NIS-4).About 2.68 cases of CSA per 1,000 children per year are disclosed to agencies (1.11 in males, 4.33 in females). This is roughly twice the average incidence rate reported in methodologically similar studies from Canada, the US, and Australia.In Switzerland, the majority of disclosed cases of CSA are handled by specialized yet semi-public agencies instead of public child welfare agencies or penal authorities. This fact might explain the higher disclosure rates.