Sexual Abuse in 8-year-old Child: Where Do We Stand Legally?
RH, a 8-year-girl, studying in fourth grade, the lone child of her parents was referred to us for psychiatric assessment by local police with a history of sexual abuse by her landlord's 17-year-old son. She presented with complaints of fearfulness, palpitation, breathlessness, anxiety, nightmares, and school avoidance.\nWhen her mother was bathing her, she noticed whitish discharge on her under garments. On enquiry, the girl narrated with fearfulness the whole incidence of sexual abuse by the landlord's son in her house under threat and coercion. Most traumatic aspect was that mother of child would keep the victim in protection of accuser's mother, as the parents were laborer. The police undertook medico-legal formalities prior to coming to us.\nOn examination, she was quiet, perplexed, anxious, and, at times, unhappy. A rapport was gradually established with her. Initially, she used to sit on mother's lap and cling to her. Gradually, she settled down. She looked very traumatic emotionally, a bit fearful, and her anxiety levels increased when she started narrating the incidence. While describing the incidence, she drew two figures lying down on cot, labeled them as herself and the accused on the top. She was so scared that she stopped going to school and out of home. She was diagnosed as having acute stress reaction.\nA report was submitted to the police for court purposes. The Child and Women Welfare Officer was involved. She was counseled along with her mother.