Incest – A Family Issue Of Concern To The Community

Introduction

The issue of incest is complex and is prevalent in all societies. However, even with the existence of laws on incest this issue continues to be highlighted in the media worldwide as one of the most under – reported crimes. The reasons are due to its dynamics such as the victims are usually young children who may be threatened or manipulated into acquiescence or silence, parents may not be trained to recognize signs of sexual abuse in children, parents who know may not report due to the lack of support system available or a host of other factors.

What Is Incest?

Incest is the exploitation of a victim for sexual gratification by an adult or any significantly older person. It is called incest if it occurs between family members including mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, adoptive and step relations, legitimate or illegitimate children or relatives of whole or half-blood (Finkelhor, D.1984, Freyd 2006, Rosanida 2012).

Who Are The Abusers?

Abusers who commit sexual crimes has blood relationships with the victim. Abusers served as the biological father, step father, biological brother, step brother, uncle, grandfather, brother, sister or anyone who has a familial relationship with the victim (Memoli 2007). Family relationships that exist make it easy for the abusers to exert their power and dominance towards the victim. From a medical point of view, incestual relationship has the potential to produce offspring that are biologically weak mentally, physically and can be life-threatening for the offspring.

Sign And Symptom

Victims of incest may have the following sign and symptoms:

1. Physical

• Reddening /itching of genital or anus
• Pain or injury of genital/anus
• Pain when passing urine
• Vaginal/penile discharges
• Abdominal pains
• Venereal diseases
• Pregnancy

2. Behavioral

• Clinging behavior
• Withdrawal/thumb-sucking
• Bed-wetting inappropriate for age
• Truancy
• Poor school performance
• Running away
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Suicide attempts
• Excessive masturbation
• Seductive behavior
• Sexual knowledge and activities inappropriate for age

3. Psychological

Psychological impact manifesting in somatic complains such as:

• Headache
• Stomachache
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Fainting spells
• Tearfulness
• Hysteria
• Irrational fears
• Appetite loss
• Lack of concentration
• Low self-esteem

How Does Incest Occur?

1. Physical contact

• Fondling victim/s genitals
• Making victim/s fondle offender’s genitals
• Actual or attempted penetration of victim/s vagina, mouth or anus with any object/s, offender’s fingers and/or penis

2. Non-physical contact

• Verbal stimulation
• Obscene phone calls
• Verbal/non – verbal exploitation

Implications

Children, adolescents and adult who have been sexually abused and victims of incest can suffer a range of psychological and behavioral problems from mild to severe in both the short and long term.

1. Intellectual and cognitive development

• Evidence of lowered intellectual and cognitive functioning
• Increases the risk of lower academic achievement and problematic school performance/work performance

2. Emotional and psychological consequences

• Low self-esteem
• Depression and anxiety
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)
• Eating disorder
• Poor peer relations
• Suicide attempts
• Insomnia

3. Behavioral problem

• Drug abuse
• Alcoholism
• Truancy
• Non – participation in school/work and social activities

4. Sleeper effects

• Victim/s may experience no harm in the short term, but suffer serious problems later in life

How To Help The Victims?

• Help the victim/s to stay calm and confident
• Report to Social Welfare Department/Police/TalianNur
• Get medical attention for the victim/s immediately
• Get the victim/s to resume a normal life
• Allow expression of feeling
• Do not pressure for information
• Continue support and reassurance

Where to get help?

TalianNur : 15999 (24 hours)

Childline Malaysia : 03-55692755 (michelle@mctf.org.my)

PS The Children : 03-79574344/79564355 (nooreen@psthevictimren.org.my)

Women Crisis Centre,Penang : 04-2280342 (wcc@wccpenang.org)

Yayasan Nur Salam :  www.chowkids.org

AWAM : 03-78770224 (awam@awam.org)

WAO Helpline : 03 7956 3488 wao@po.jaring.my

*Any Police Station or Welfare Department nearby  

References

1. Briere,J. (1992). Child abuse trauma: Theory and treatment of the lasting effects. Newbury Park CA:Sage Publication 2. Finkelhor, D. 1984a.Child sexual abuse. New York: The Free Press 3. Finkelhor,D. &Brown,A. 1990. Early and long term effects of child sexual abuse. A review of the research. Profesional Psychology21(5):325-330 4. Memoli, M. 2007. Comparing victims of child sexual abuse by intimate perpetrators to victims by non intimate perpetrators for levels of trauma responses.  United States:Capella University. 5. Rosanida,A. (2012). Simptom trauma, pengluahan dan sokongan sosial mangsa penderaan seksual kanak kanak.Bangi:Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. 6. http://www.apa.org 7. http://www.wccpenang.org

Last Reviewed	:	5 June 2014
Writer	:	Dr. Rosanida bt. Anang
Translator	:	Dr. Rosanida bt. Anang
Accreditor	:	Doren Edward @ Doreen Kissey