Girls abused—study

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 6

Girls abused—study

PA Auckland Over . half of the girls aged 15 and 16 in social welfare care have been sexually abused, a, Social Welfare Department survey shows..' | A study of 239 girls showed 54 per 'cent had had genital! contact with relatives, friends or acquaintances.' I | The' ages! of the girls when they were' first abused ranged from two to 15 with iari [average age

of 10. Sexual abuse rangedl from several days to more; than five years.i Nearlyj all the abusers were male. Half, were father-figures, toothers, step or foster brothers or .uncles and cousins. Half [were friends or acquaintances and fewer than 110 per cent were strangers. Maori and pakeha girls were equally likely to be abused after they; came inkksocial welfare care as -

be Ore. jin most cases tliqugh, the abusers were not care-givers. Ii! [Many bf the girls, had ruiJ away from home, skipped | school,; had! alcohol! and drug prob- ! lerns and were I sexually lj active. Shoplifting, assault, I car} [conversion and van-; dalism were common offences. ■■' ■ ,11 ; | Most girls | told their mothers about the sexual abi Se and those who did not I tell anyone did so be< ause of fear. , i --I I-4