Characterization of sexual crimes in minors under 19 years of age

Abstract

Introduction: childhood sexual violence has consequences for the health of children and adolescents.

Objective: to characterize the situation of sexual crime in children under 19 years of age, in the southern area of the Province of Ciego de Ávila from January 2016 to December 2018.

Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with a universe of 150 minors under 19 years of age, victims of sexual crimes and a sample of 137 minors who met the research criteria. Variables analyzed: age, sex, frequency of the event, typology of sexual crime, year of occurrence, municipality, place, method used by the perpetrator, victim-victimizer relationship and risk factors present in the victim. The percentage was used as a summary measure.

Results: most frequent sexual crime, lascivious abuse 78 cases; highest number of female victims 84.70%; municipality with the highest incidence Ciego de Ávila 62.80%. Crimes originating mostly in the home of the perpetrator 50.40%; Relationships with neighbors predominated 32.80%. An increase in sexual crimes was found with an incidence in 2016 of 32.80% of cases and in 2018 of 35.00%. The predominant method used by the perpetrator was abuse of trust 32.10%. In the frequency of the crime, a prevalence of occurrence was observed, only once, 67.20%.

Conclusions: a reference is offered for the development of future strategies aimed at monitoring the emergence and progress of sexual crimes to put an end to violence against children and adolescents.