• PREVALENCE is the percentage of the population that is affected by child sexual
  abuse; the general existence of child sexual abuse.
• CONSEQUENCE is the impact that child sexual abuse has on a victim/survivor and
  on our society over time.
• Sexual abuse touches every life when it leads to losses of trust, decreases in self
  esteem, and development of shame, guilt and depression.
• Sexual abuse touches every life when it leads to eating disorders, substance
  abuse, suicide, promiscuity/prostitution, and other psychobehavioral issues;

• 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18. (96)
• 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18. (96)
• 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet. (30, 87)
• Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to
  children ages 17 and under. (76)
• An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today.
  (1)

• 30-40% of victims are abused by a family member. (2, 44, 76)
• Another 50% are abused by someone outside of the family whom they know and trust.
• Approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know. (1, 44)
• Therefore, only 10% are abused by strangers.

• The median age for reported abuse is 9 years old. (64)
• More than 20% of children are sexually abused before the age of 8. (76)
• Nearly 50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and
  forcible fondling are children under 12. (74, 76)

• Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many
  children do not report that they have been abused.
• Over 30% of victims never disclose the experience to ANYONE.
• Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse.
• Almost 80% initially deny abuse or are tentative in disclosing. Of those who do
  disclose, approximately 75% disclose accidentally. Additionally, of those who do
  disclose, more than 20% eventually recant even though the abuse occurred.
• Fabricated sexual abuse reports constitute only 1% to 4% of all reported cases. Of
  these reports, 75% are falsely reported by adults and 25% are reported by children.
  Children only fabricate ½% of the time.
   

Consequences of child sexual abuse begin affecting children and families immediately.
They also affect society in innumerable and negative ways. These effects can continue
throughout the life of the survivor so the impact on society for just one survivor continues
over multiple decades. Try to imagine the impact of 39 million survivors.

Health and/or Behavioral Problems:
 

• The way a victim's family responds to abuse plays an important role in how the
  incident affects the victim.
• Sexually abused children who keep it a secret or who "tell" and are not believed are
  at greater risk than the general population for psychological, emotional, social, and
  physical problems often lasting into adulthood.
• Children who have been victims of sexual abuse are more likely to experience
  physical health problems (e.g., headaches).
• Victims of child sexual abuse report more symptoms of PTSD, more sadness, and
  more school problems than non-victims. (10, 16, 55, 72)
• Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to experience major depressive disorder
  as adults. (55, 72)
• Young girls who are sexually abused are more likely to develop eating disorders as
  adolescents. (16, 40, 89)
• Adolescent victims of violent crime have difficulty in the transition to adulthood, are
  more likely to suffer financial failure and physical injury, and are at risk to fail in
  other areas due to problem behaviors and outcomes of the victimization.

• Victims of child sexual abuse report more substance abuse problems. 70-80% of
  sexual abuse survivors report excessive drug and alcohol use. (10, 16, 89)
• Young girls who are sexually abused are 3 times more likely to develop psychiatric
  disorders or alcohol and drug abuse in adulthood, than girls who are not sexually
  abused. (16, 40, 89)
• Among male survivors, more than 70% seek psychological treatment for issues such
  as substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide. Males who have been
  sexually abused are more likely to violently victimize others. (90)
   

Teenage Pregnancy and Promiscuity:
 

• Children who have been victims of sexual abuse exhibit long-term and more frequent
  behavioral problems, particularly inappropriate sexual behaviors.
• Women who report childhood rape are 3 times more likely to become pregnant before
  age 18.
• An estimated 60% of teen first pregnancies are preceded by experiences of
  molestation, rape, or attempted rape. The average age of their offenders is 27 years.
• Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to be sexually promiscuous. (39, 59, 60, 70)
• More than 75% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused.

• Adolescents who suffer violent victimization are at risk for being victims or
  perpetrators of felony assault, domestic violence, and property offense as adults.
• Nearly 50% of women in prison state that they were abused as children.
• Over 75% of serial rapists report they were sexually abused as youngsters.

• Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; at least 20% have
  10 to 40 victims. (23)
• An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime