Perpetrator's of Sexual Abuse among Adolescent Girls, Kerala - Unveiling the Camouflage

Dr. Simi Mohan. J. S. | Dr. Kochuthresiamma Thomas | Dr. Y. Suba Joice | Father Joye James

Abstract: Child Sexual Abuse called as a "hidden pediatric problem" in the late 1970?s has turned as a pandemic moral disaster recently. In India, a study by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) showed that around (63%) girls and (56%) of boys are abused and startlingly (50%) of the perpetrators are persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility. The overall objective of the current study was to identify the perpetrator?s characteristics among adolescent girls in Kerala. An Explorative Cross-Sectional design using a modified standardized tool and a multistage sampling technique among 1087 adolescent girls belonging to eight and ninth standard by a school based survey was amended. The tool was validated by subject experts and content validity index was 0.92. Majority (87.6%) of the perpetrators were male. Though a known friend (28.3%) was the culprit in showing pornographic film and taking photograph in nude, strangers (31.59%), were the principal perpetrators in exhibitionism. Around (77%) of the perpetrators are the same in victims of sexual abuse who faced it more than one time and (23.65%) of the perpetrator are a known family friend in victims of sexual abuse. This study highlights that sexual abuse is rambling everywhere and as persons in trust are the prime perpetrators, it is important to bring the hidden conspiracy to the limelight to pause the sedition of silence around the pandemic moral disaster.

Keywords: Perpetrator, Sexual abuse, Adolescent girls, Kerala

Edition: Volume 10 Issue 10, October 2021,

Pages: 930 - 933