Abstract

ABARCA CAMPOS, Carlos et al. Child Abuse as a Social Problem in Costa Rica, from January 2005 to May 2006. Med. leg. Costa Rica [online]. 2006, vol.23, n.2, pp.111-135. ISSN 2215-5287.

Child abuse is an issue which has persisted through history. This problem includes not only physical, but psychological damage. Clinical report, most of the times, is the principal axis in the correct diagnosis and the posterior treatment. In this study, 192 cases of child abuse were analyzed between January 2005 and May 2006, and the results presented most of the cases include child molesting, occasional medical attention after the assault, the victims receive medical attention long time after the assault, and most of the cases occur during December, which can be associated with irresponsible behavior (alcohol, parties, etc.). It is very important that the physician is very clear about the signs of sexual abuse and its physical and psychological consequences, since it is the most common type of aggression and in many cases can be unnoticed.

Keywords : Child abuse; child molesting; Costa Rican childhood; damage; clinical report of abused child; social problem; irreparable damage; death.

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