Fitxers
Tipus de document
ArticleVersió
Versió publicadaData de publicació
Llicència de publicació
Si us plau utilitzeu sempre aquest identificador per citar o enllaçar aquest document: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/229971
Sexual exploitation among adolescents in residential care: Prevalence and implications for child protection
Títol de la revista
Director/Tutor
Contribució addicional
ISSN de la revista
Títol del volum
Resum
Background: Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a major public health problem that disproportionately affects children and young people involved in the child welfare system. Objective: This study estimated the reported prevalence of CSE among adolescents in residential care facilities in a northern region of Spain and identified associated risk factors. Participants and setting: The sample included 119 adolescents (51.3% male, 45.4% female) aged 14–18 years (M = 15.95), residing in 26 residential care facilities across northern Spain. Methods: An ad hoc online questionnaire assessed (a) sociodemographic characteristics, (b) child protection history, (c) knowledge and perceptions of CSE, and (d) personal experiences of CSE. Results: Overall, 17.6% of participants in this regional sample reported experiencing some form of CSE in the past year. The most prevalent form was sharing sexual images or videos, followed by sexual intercourse and sexual touching. Compared with non-victims, those who experienced CSE were more likely to be female, to have run away from the residential facility, to have received prior CSE education, and to know someone involved in CSE. Conclusions: Findings underscore the urgent need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies addressing CSE among youth in residential care. Comprehensive approaches should include professional training, systematic screening and risk assessment, and direct interventions. These should be implemented through an intersectional framework that acknowledges multiple vulnerabilities and risk factors to better protect young people within the child welfare system.
Recurs relacionat
Matèries (anglès)
Citació
Citació
PEREDA BELTRAN, Noemí and ÁGUILA OTERO, Alba. Sexual exploitation among adolescents in residential care: Prevalence and implications for child protection. Child Protection and Practice. 2026. Vol. 9, num. 100324. ISSN 2950-1938. [consulted: 6 of October of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/229971