Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association - Thursday May 20, 2004
Schaaf, from the department of paediatrics and children's health at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Children's Hospital in Cape Town said a during a single episode of consensual sex involving "vaginal-penile penetration", the risk factor was between 0.1- and 0.2%.
This increased to between 0.1 and 3% in penile-anal penetration.
"We don't know what the risk is among sexually abused children but its believed to be much higher because of the trauma caused to internal membranes," he said.
Schaaf was addressing the fifth conference of the South African Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (SAPSAC) at the University of Pretoria said the HIV infection rate among sexually abused children was expected to be much higher than among consenting adults.
Schaaf, quoting a Tygerberg Hospital study, said that five children (1.8%) out of 274 tested had become HIV-positive after being sexually assaulted.
A Cape Town University study of 200 children showed only a 1% infection rate, but he warned that statistics were very hard to come by as many children, once the assault was reported, did not attend follow up treatment.
"And because of this we have no way of knowing what happens to them," he said.
He also said the legal system, "fraught with legal and ethical issues", was making research difficult with the rights of the abuser taking preference over the abused.
He noted that two years back, a blood sample to judge a suspect's HIV status, could be taken without their consent as long as they were under arrest.
Now, he said, the rules had changed and there was not way of testing the accused person if they refused permission.
"We are hoping the rules will be changed back," he said.
Schaaf also raised concerns over the possible reduction of the age of consensual sex from 16 years to 14 years.
He said this would make children more vulnerable and open them up to sexual abuse.
The new child protection act, of which this will form part, is currently being drafted but no decisions have yet been made.
Schaaf however, argued that there was "no way" most 14-year-olds would fully understand the concept of sexual protection.
This meant advantage could be taken of them.
"Already a child of 12 can ask for contraception and a 14-year-old girl can give permission for an abortion without her parents being made aware. What is there to stop children from having sex until they are ready?"
The three-day SAPSAC conference, attended by over 200 social workers, psychologists, police officials and medical and legal experts, was organised to focus attention on the growing number of cases involving sexually abused children locally and internationally.
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