There have been substantial and significant increases in the incidence of child abuse and neglect since the last national incidence study was conducted in 1986. Under the Endangerment Standard, the number of abused and neglected children nearly doubled from 1986 to 1993. The total number of children seriously injured and the total number endangered both quadrupled during this time. Child Characteristics Girls were sexually abused three times more often than boys. Boys had a greater risk of emotional neglect and of serious injury than girls.
Children are consistently vulnerable to sexual abuse from age three on.
In most cases abused children have tried to tell some adult about the abuse, but the adults are in denial or simply don't know how to respond . In my case, the man to whom my aunt was married had systematically abused his own children and grandchildren for years. Well, it was their children. It was any child he got his hands on, if even for a brief period. And as far as I'm concerned, every adult who even suspected what was happening and didn't act is partially responsible for what happened to everyone of us who were harmed.