Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse includes: rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts.
Possible indicators of sexual abuse
- Significant change in sexual behaviour or attitude
- Pregnancy in a woman who is unable to consent to sexual intercourse
- Changes to urinary continence or soiling
- Poor concentration
- Person appears withdrawn, depressed, or stressed
- Unusual difficulty or sensitivity in walking or sitting
- Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
- Bruises, bleeding, pain or itching in genital area
- Sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract or vaginal infection
- Bruising to thighs, upper arms, or neck, or ‘love bites’
- Self-harming behaviour
- Showing signs of fear or emotional distress
- Bruises around the breasts or genital areas
- Unexplained sexually transmitted infections
- Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
- Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
- Inappropriate displays of physical affection or sexual touching by a care provider
- The adult who needs care and support telling you they have been sexually assaulted, raped or forced to engage in sexual activity to which they have not consented.