Sexual abuse is more likely to be identified through behavioural indicators, rather than by physical indicators.
Difficulty in walking or sitting
Anxiety related illnesses, such as anorexia or bulimia
Discomfort in urinating or defecating
Recurrent urinary infections
Evidence of physical trauma, to the oral, genital or anal areas, manifested as bleeding, discharge, soreness and/or itching
Bruising and other injury to breasts, buttocks and thighs and other parts of the body
Sexually transmitted disease in a child of any age
Unexplained pregnancy
Learning problems, inexplicable fall in academic grades, poor memory and concentration
Reluctance to participate in physical or recreational activities
Regression to younger behaviour, such as thumb sucking, bedwetting and speech difficulties
Tendency to cling or need constant reassurance
Sudden accumulation of money or gifts
Complaining of headaches, stomach pains or nausea without a physiological basis
Fatigue and sleeping difficulties
Poor self-care/personal hygiene
Depression
Social withdrawal such as poor or deteriorating relationships with adults and peers
Developing fears, phobias and anxieties (A fear of a specific place related to abuse, a particular adult, refusing to change into sports/swimming clothes)
Wearing of provocative clothing, or layers of clothes to hide injuries and/or to appear unattractive
Sexual knowledge, behavior, or use of language not appropriate to age level
Sexually abusive behavior towards other children, particularly younger or more vulnerable than themselves
Child running away from home/school.
Self-injurious behavior, like alcohol or drug abuse, body-mutilation, getting in trouble with law, suicide attempts.
Source: www.tulir.org
Physical indicators
Behavioural Indicators
