The Prevalence of Sexual Abuse in Adolescence in Suriname.

Studies conducted to ascertain the prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) in the Caribbean are poorly synthesized. Present study reports on the lifetime and year prevalence of unwanted sexual experiences, the risk of CSA at different ages within adolescence, and differences between the three largest ethnic groups in Suriname. One thousand one hundred and twenty (1,120) adolescents completed a questionnaire on child maltreatment, including CSA. The study's stratified sample consisted of students (ages 12 to 17) from five districts in Suriname. More than 16% of all boys and 15% of all girls indicated that they had been exposed to some form of CSA in the past 12 months. Girls reported significantly more intrafamilial CSA by a minor than boys. Boys reported significantly more experiences of being touched or forced by a minor outside the family to look at/touch the abuser's private parts than girls. Besides, 16 and 17-year olds were the most vulnerable. An increased risk of CSA (year prevalence) was found as adolescence progresses. A significant portion of CSA constituted peer-to-peer sexual victimization. Afro Surinamese adolescents were found to report the highest rates of CSA. Appropriate legislation, policies, and services for prevention and recovery are needed in Suriname.

A national study on the prevalence of child abuse and neglect in Suriname.

The prevalence of child maltreatment in Suriname has never been subjected to a reliable assessment. The only data available include rough estimates of a range of internationally comparable indicators extrapolated from child protection and police corps statistics for offenses against children. This study aimed to provide a reliable estimate of the prevalence of all forms of child maltreatment in Suriname. One thousand three hundred and ninety-one (1,391) adolescents and young adults of different ethnicities completed a questionnaire about child maltreatment. The study sample, obtained by random probability sampling, consisted of students (ages 12 through 22) from five districts in Suriname. A significant proportion of Surinamese children experienced maltreatment. In total, 86.8% of adolescents and 95.8% of young adults reported having been exposed to at least one form of child maltreatment during their lives. Among the adolescents, 57.1% were exposed to child maltreatment in the past year. When the definition of the National Incidence Study was applied, 58.2% of adolescents and 68.8% of young adults had been exposed to at least one form of maltreatment. Among adolescents, 36.8% reported having experienced at least one form of maltreatment in the past year. The results indicate the (extremely) high lifetime and year prevalence of child maltreatment in Suriname. The serious and often lifelong consequences of such maltreatment indicate that a national approach to child abuse and neglect, including the development of a national strategic plan, a national surveillance system and changes to the state's programmatic and policy response, is urgently needed.