Child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a form of child abuse defined as any act that involves a child in, or exposes a child to, any type of sexual activity that they are not developmentally prepared for, do not fully comprehend, do not have the capacity to consent to, or which otherwise contravenes laws and societal taboos. Forms of child sexual abuse include engaging in sexual behavior with a child (whether by force, threats, coercion, manipulation, or other fraudulent means), exhibitionism, child grooming, and using a child to produce or exposing a child to child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM).

CSA is not confined to specific settings; it permeates various institutions and communities. CSA affects children in all socioeconomic levels; across all racial, ethnic, and cultural groups; and in both rural and urban areas.