sexual abuse

[Shari Ben Natan <sharben@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I would like to raise a subject that I approached two years on this list
and didn't have much response.  I hope that the reason for this was that
there isn't much research (if any!) in the field, and not my boring way of
presenting the problem.

Anyway, I am going to try again.

I am the director of a theraputic home for severely abused children (1 yr
old to 6-7 yrs old) that have been removed from parental home.  Most of the
parents are either drug abusers or severely disturbed (psychotic, usually).
 Many of the children have been sexually abused.  In the last few years we
have had 4 little boys that had been sexually abused by their mother.  All
of these little boys (ages 4 to 6) had swelling in the breasts at their
admittance.

My questions are thus:
        1. Has anyone else encountered this 'phenemona'?
        2. Has anyone researched the heightening of hormones in sexual abuse
(estrogen?)?
        3. Does anyone have any ideas concerning these questions?
        
I would appreciate any comments that people have on this subject.  I have a
medical student on my staff that would like to do her doctorate in this
area, so come on, SHOOT!

Shari

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Shari Ben Natan
Director of Transitional
Home for Children
POB 5245
Beer Sheva, Israel
sharben@netvision.net.il
tel. 07 6235155, 053 831184
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