A Case Study of Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Abstract

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a crime against children. It is largely underreported and commonly goes unpunished in our society as it is commonly perpetrated by close ones including family relations. Victims are left with the adverse sequelae associated with it sometimes for life. This report highlights the management of a case of PID in a child as a result of incest perpetrated by her father. It also brings to fore the problems and challenges of child sexual abuse in Nigeria. The patient was a 17 year old 100 level university student who lost her mother at the age of 14 and was living with her father alone. The father sexually abused her repeatedly for two years. She became pregnant and had the pregnancy illegally terminated at seven weeks gestation via dilatation and curettage. The procedure was complicated by Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) which necessitated her presentation at the clinic where she was treated. The case brings to the fore the problem of child sexual abuse in Nigeria and its attendant sequelae. The health care providers should have a high index of suspicion for CSA when attending to minors and address sexual problems including CSA where present. 

Keywords: Tear break-up time, Schirmer’s test, Intraocular Pressure, Pregnancy, Child, Crime, Incest, PID