The dilemma of suspecting vs confirming child sex abuse: the need of finding physical evidence

Abstract

This article is a brief passage of a much ample research entitled “Sexual child abuse within the family and the pediatricians ways of listening”, conducted
at the health basic units in the county of Embu – SP, Brazil. The main goal of this research was to learn how the Pediatricians perceive and understand sexual abuse against children. For this article it will be reported and analyzed, in the light of psychoanalysis, one of the axes of the empirical research, regarding the need, reported by pediatricians, to find physical evidence on children in order to suspect, detect and report sexual abuse. When analyzing the findings, we conclude that although the majority of interviewed Pediatricians have former training in the subject of child sex abuse, personal, cultural and institutional questions still impair the practice of such trainings. We finally observe there is still much to be done in order to enable the health professionals to truly feel capable to assist in facing the violence against children head on.