Incidence of childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in Quito-Ecuador using the ICAST-R

Objectives: There is limited information regarding the prevalence of abuse in developing countries. The present study uses the ICAST-R to collect data regarding the prevalence of childhood maltreatment in Ecuador. The study... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives: There is limited information regarding the prevalence of abuse in developing countries. The present study uses the ICAST-R to collect data regarding the prevalence of childhood maltreatment in Ecuador. The study also investigates participants’ perceptions and the long-term impact of sexual abuse experiences. Method: A representative sample of 3133 university students (M=1579, F= 1554) filled the Spanish ICAST-R, together with other questionnaires that measure perceptions and traumatic impact. Results: Physical abuse was reported by 47% of the participants with parents being the most common perpetuators. Emotional abuse was reported by 53% of the participants and the most common perpetuators were same-sex peers and parents. Sexual abuse was reported by 15% of the participants (M=13%, F=18%). Most of the abuse towards females came from adult males (76%), particularly family relatives, males from the community, and family friends. For males, perpetuators were mostly female peers (53%), adult females (36%), and less frequently adult males (27%) and male peers (20%). Almost all of the female participants described these experiences as non-consented and in negative terms (i.e., “shameful”, “traumatic”, “scary”, “confusing”). On the other hand, half of the male participants considered these experiences as consented and their perceptions varied (i.e., “normal”, “help me to mature”, “shameful”, “confusing”, “traumatic”). Results from the IES showed that for many participants, some childhood sexual experiences have had long-term impact. Half of the females and 20% of the male participants reported that they still had avoidant post-traumatic stress symptoms. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that childhood maltreatment is frequent in Ecuador as is the worldwide trend. Many of the results regarding gender differences and the interpretation and impact of sexual abuse can be explained through the context of the abuse and should be understood through cultural factors typical of the Latin American culture.