Shocking Statistics of Childhood Sexual and Physical Abuse Published In Recent Australian Study

The most recent publication of the Medical Journal of Australia features the findings of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study.

The study involved 8,500 participants with 3500 being aged 18 – 24 and then 5 cohorts of 1,000 people in older aged groups.

It is the biggest study ever conducted in the world and was undertaken as a result of one of the recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse in Institutions.

The study found that 28.5% of participants had been sexually abused as a child and 32% had suffered physical abuse as a child.  Almost 8% of those abused as a child were sexually abused by a family member and females were twice as likely to be sexually abused as compared to males.

The only encouragement was an approximate 10% reduction of sexual abuse to the younger age group compared to those of middle age, perhaps reflective of a reduction in sexual abuse due to it being spoken about publicly over the last two decades.

The study also examined the mental health outcomes of those who suffered child abuse. Only 21% of participants who were not abused suffered a mental health condition. This increased to 36% for a person suffering one type of abuse and 55% for those suffering physical and sexual abuse or some other form of abuse. MKF lawyers assists people to claim compensation for childhood sexual abuse and/or serious physical abuse. There are no time limits for making such claims and compensation in the millions has been awarded by Courts in recent times.

For a confidential discussion about your case please contact us on 08 7093 2998, by email at info@mkflawyers.com.au or by submitting an online form by clicking the button below. We act in all claims on a no win no fee basis and each claim will be managed by senior lawyers experienced in this area who understand the trauma involved in coming forward and making such a claim.